There aren’t many guarantees in life. Death, taxes, the Patriots winning the AFC East, and your kid needing his diaper changed moments after you’ve just changed it makes up most of the list. Another thing on that list, probably near the top of it, is the feel-good effectiveness of a video of a military parent surprising their family with an unexpected return from overseas.

Thanks to this young century’s frequent, perpetual need for military personnel to be stationed in various locales all over the world, and the explosion of social media over the past ten years, videos of Army soldiers and Navy sailors and Marines returning home and surprising their none-the-wiser spouses and children are more plentiful than ever. And unless you’re heart is dead and black, they never, ever get old.

But it’s definitely nice when they have a bit of a twist – like when this Coast Guard dad surprised his son at a Cleveland game.

The latest reunion video to go viral online has just that, in the form or a large, furry bulldog. That’s where Coast Guard sergeant was hiding to surprise his daughter in her middle school cafeteria, after returning home from seven months of active duty.

The dad was on his way home and he decided to call his daughter’s Maryland school and let them know. When he got there, the school’s vice principal, Marcus Shipley, suggested the sergeant don the school’s mascot costume. Seeing a great opportunity, Dad obliged and entered the cafeteria dressed as Stephen Decatur Middle School’s bulldog mascot. He makes his way around the cafeteria, interacting with many of the students he passes. He eventually reaches the table where his daughter, Madi, is eating lunch, and she reaches out to give him a high-five.

Suddenly, he whips off his mask and she squeals in delight and surprise at the sight of her father, to cheers from the rest of the school.

Surprise! Madi’s dad made a surprise visit to lunch today. He has just returned from serving 7 months of active duty overseas. 💙 pic.twitter.com/B7oYrMdc4t

— DecaturMiddle_Berlin (@SDMS_Berlin) January 23, 2019

There isn’t a dry eye in the house, except maybe the fairly disinterested young lady seated next to Madi. Lynn Barton, the school’s principal, told ABC News that it “was definitely a feel-good moment for all of us…There was lots of applause and tears.”

Except….from that one girl.

The arrival of a new Quentin Tarantino movie is always something of an occasion. This Friday brings the release of his 9th, and if he’s to be believed, second-to-last feature film, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. A lot of people are excited about the movie, but some have more reason than others to anticipate its release.

Including the son of a beloved actor, for whom the movie ranks as one of his last performances.

Luke Perry, 90s television icon and all-around good guy, passed away earlier this year, but not before he finished filming his part in Tarantino’s next film.

Perry plays a real-life actor named Wayne Maunder, who starred in a western show called Lancer. Maunder is a colleague of Leonardo DiCaprio’s character Rick Dalton who is a fading TV star attempting to crossover into movies. The trailer promises a fun ride through late 60s Hollywood appearances by characters such as Charlie Manson and victim Sharon Tate, Bruce Lee, and more, and featuring performances from a lot of current stars.

Recently, a billboard featuring Perry posing as his character was unveiled, and on the night of the film’s Hollywood premiere, Perry’s son Jack, who works as a wrestler named Jungle Boy, celebrated his dad by scaling it.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Big premiere tonight. He deserved this, and I’m very proud of it. A stud in life, and forever after. The best of the best. Love you forever. Thanks @dannydrone_ for capturing and making this for me.

A post shared by Jungle Boy • Jack Perry (@boy_myth_legend) on Jul 22, 2019 at 8:01am PDT

He added the caption: “Big premiere tonight. He deserved this, and I’m very proud of it. A stud in life, and forever after. The best of the best. Love you forever.”

It was a fitting tribute to a well-loved actor and a good dad.

“I never thought that I wanted kids.

I’ve always been a pretty high-strung, sometimes impatient, anxious, not-so-even-keel guy. When my wife gave me the news that we were expecting our first child, I was happy but also kind of selfishly hesitant internally.

Fast forward 2.5 years and we now have two boys. Two weeks after Little Dude #2 was born, we moved to a new city so that I could start a new job, living in a new house with a new baby. I now know what REAL stress is.

My point is, my boys have taught me patience and consistency because they are the least patient and consistent people I’ve ever met.

Before I had kids, I think I was still kind of a boy, even at 33. Now I can take a giant inflatable hammer to the head from the back seat of the car while driving home from the county fair and laugh about it.

That’s being a man, right?”

– Rocky Brown

Want to share a story about fatherhood? Email fatherfigures@thedad.com

Check out the previous editions of Father Figures here.

Last week, a college student on Facebook posted an event called “Storm Area 51, They Can’t Stop All of Us,” to take place on September 20th. Obviously, he was just goofing around.

Of course, nobody takes goofing around more seriously than the internet, and the event quickly exploded, with hundreds of thousands of people RSVPing to finally find out the truth about aliens, and (seemingly) hundreds of thousands more making memes out of the event.

Last week, if you went anywhere online, you probably saw some sort of meme or tweet or joke about the Area 51 event, including comments from Keanu Reeves, an animated video from Lil Nas X, and more. The chatter eventually provoked a response from the Air Force, reminding everyone that Area 51 is a military base: “Any attempt to illegally access military installations or military training areas is dangerous.” Like, duh.

It didn’t seem like the Area 51 jokes were going to stop, and then brands got involved. Brands like Bud Light, who promised free beer to any aliens who made it out.

Screw it. Free Bud Light to any alien that makes it out. https://t.co/AOWOYL3Oyp

— Bud Light (@budlight) July 17, 2019

They followed that up by unveiling their very own Area 51 limited edition can:

Area 51 Special Edition. 👽 pic.twitter.com/8wGbSLqY6r

— Bud Light (@budlight) July 17, 2019

The can’s label reads “We Come In Peace” and has the following description:

“Greetings Earthlings. This is the famous Area 51. We know of no space beer by any other life form which is brewed and aged to be more refreshing. Our cryogenic aging procedures a light bodied space lager with a fresh taste, a crisp clean finish, and a smooth drinkability. Take us to your leader… for drinks.”

Whether you make it to Area 51 this September or not, you can celebrate the historic, hopefully-no-one-actually-goes-and-gets-shot event in your backyard, with Bud Light’s special can.

The can may be different but the nutritional content is still the same…there isn’t any.

The third season of “Stranger Things” went up on Netflix over the 4th of July weekend and adds are most of you have already watched it. It’s one of the most binge-able shows out there, and the downside to that is that it’s already gone. Now we have to wait another year-plus for the next season, which has a handful of pressing questions to answer.

But if you’re waiting to get some of your favorite characters back in your life, in particular, Sheriff Hopper, douche-turned-good guy Steve, and everybody’s favorite “Neverending Story” stan, Dustin, I have got one heck of a Twitter thread for you.

One of the show’s most unlikely and beloved relationships is that between Steve “The Hair” Harrington and Dustin, perhaps the nerdiest of all the nerds on the show.

But it turns out maybe it’s not that unlikely after all. Twitter user @JustARealDummy somehow dug up photos of “Stranger Things” star David “Chief Hopper” Harbour and comedian Patton Oswalt, and it seems the two adults friends were actually real-life versions of Steve and Dustin, back in the day.

I mean, just look at the uncanny resemblance each teen has to the TV characters.

@DavidKHarbour and @pattonoswalt ‘s friendship makes so much sense when you realize they are grown up Steve & Dustin pic.twitter.com/v2R8yejLOp

— Trevor White (@JustARealDummy) July 21, 2019

Needless to say, “Stranger Things” fans are here for these doppelgangers.

Nothing in this entire life has ever made me as happy as this. https://t.co/3NMukwZOUs

— Alisha Grauso (@AlishaGrauso) July 21, 2019

David “The Hair” Harbour, and I bet Patton does a solid “Never ending Story” rendition

— Bill Lynch (@Fallback84) July 22, 2019

This. Is. Brilliant.

— Drew Powell (@thedrewpowell) July 21, 2019

The official “Stranger Things 3” account wants to verify the discovery:

we demand to see your handshake

— Stranger Things (@Stranger_Things) July 21, 2019

YES! pic.twitter.com/hkzhAOCRSN

— 𝟚𝟟𝕡𝕠𝕜𝕖𝕣 ♻️ (@the27poker) July 21, 2019

The official arbiter of all things art weighed in:

Art.

— Art Or Not Art (@ArtDecider) July 21, 2019

Even Patton Oswalt is stunned:

YES! pic.twitter.com/hkzhAOCRSN

— 𝟚𝟟𝕡𝕠𝕜𝕖𝕣 ♻️ (@the27poker) July 21, 2019

No word yet from the Chief, but he may be indisposed, one way or the other.

Joseph Tidd is just like any other almost-two-year-old. He’s extremely active, adorable, and has a smile that spreads to anyone who sees it. Likely the only thing that makes the 21-month-old feel any different than his peers is the fact he was born without his left forearm.

So when Joseph and his family finally got to meet soccer star Carson Pickett, it opened up a new world for both the toddler and his parents. Pickett too was born without her left forearm but has managed to achieve incredible things in both her personal life as well as on the field. Her journey, an inspiration to not only the Tidd family but to anyone who has followed her road to the pros.

Pickett was part of the 2014 NCAA D1 Championship team, helping the Florida State Seminoles secure their very first title in a tournament where the team’s defense – anchored by Picket – allowed zero goals. While her arm has long been a part of the narrative surrounding her incredible story, Pickett, like young Joseph, doesn’t let it define her.

At a game back in April, the two inspiring athletes finally got a chance to meet in person – Joseph’s mom, Colleen Tidd, capturing a photo that has now been shared by news outlets and individuals around the world.

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Staying up late this weekend was worth it when you get to cheer on @carson.pickett ! ⚽️ I love fist bumping her.🤜 If you can't tell she makes me smile, double chin and all! . . . Swipe ➡️ to see how big my smile gets after I fist bumped her. I couldn't stop giggling! 😁 Carson is such a great role model. . . . #orlandopride #nwsl #biggerthansoccer #filledwithpride #luckyfinfamily #luckyfinproject #limbdifferenceawareness #16 #orlando #fistbump #doublechin #giggling #smile #grateful #stayinguplate #toddler #cheerleader #tenfingersareoverrated #orlandocity #orlandocitysoccer #rolemodel #soccer #unstoppable

A post shared by Joseph Tidd (@tiddbit_outta_hand) on Jun 5, 2019 at 7:53pm PDT

Joseph’s father, Miles, recently told TODAY it was a moment he and his family will never forget. “Carson knelt down next to Joseph and showed him her arm,” adding “It was this instant bond we can’t begin to understand.”

Now Miles says they’ve formed another bond with Picket’s parents, Mike and Treasure. “For us this is great because we get to ask those tough questions about how to deal with bullies,” noting Picket’s parents never allowed their daughter to say things like “I can’t.”

Beyond her success on the soccer field, Miles says Pickett ”believes she can do anything, and that is the mindset we want Joseph to have as well.” It’s an opportunity the Orlando Pride star is grateful for, telling The Guardian back in 2018 “I’m able to impact so many kids and people who may not see a way out. It doesn’t have to impact them through soccer. To see that I am succeeding in life and happy in life can go a long way for some people.”

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Soccer means the world to me, but the platform that soccer provides me for things like this takes the cake. Joseph, you’re my new hero for life💜 #limbdifferenceawarenessmonth

A post shared by Carson Pickett (@carson.pickett) on Apr 16, 2019 at 12:21pm PDT

It’s just another example of professional athletes taking time out to inspire young fans while sharing their own personal journey – a trend we hope continues to spread.

Kensli Davis’s mom knew how much she liked Moana, which is why she requested a Moana-themed cake from the local Dairy Queen for her daughter’s birthday.

But it wasn’t a cake designed with the Disney character that Kensli received. Instead, it was a recipe for internet virality: a cake decorated with a marijuana leaf and a depiction of a My Little Pony character with a tattoo of — you guessed it — another pot leaf.

“My mother told them I like cartoons, so I guess that’s why they threw the My Little Pony character in there,” Kensli told local news affiliate WMAZ.

Kensli shared her birthday mishap to Facebook on July 2, posting a photo of the cannabis cake and explaining what happened.

“I haven’t had a chance to tell y’all about our experience this weekend with my birthday cake. So my mama called and ordered me a cake telling them how much I loved Moana. (Because really I do) Well needless to say these people thought she said marijuana. … That ice cream cake was still good though!”

Since then, Kensli’s post has gone viral, racking up 11,000 likes and 14,000 shares.

Kensli said that her mom was amused by the mixup, explaining that because of their south Georgia accents, the baker must’ve mistaken “Moana” for “marijuana.”

“It had red eyes. It was smoking a joint with a tramp stamp of a pot leaf on it’s bottom,” said Kensli.

Kensli says that it was an honest mistake and she’ll continue ordering from the same Dairy Queen, as she’s been doing for the last 10 years, but will probably stick to non-themed cakes from now on.

“It won’t be Moana or marijuana. I just won’t get a design at all. I’ll just get a regular ice cream cake if I have to,” Davis said.

The baker offered to make her another cake, but Kensli was so tickled by the mishap (and still enjoyed her weed cake!) so declined. She said the cake was tasty.

Lesson learned? Next time you want to order a marijuana-themed cake but are too shy to ask, just use the code word “Moana” instead. All bakers know this secret code — they’ll get the message and make your birthday lit.

Or you can just tell them to make your kid’s birthday cake like something out of a horror movie.

Deciding to do a gender reveal party can take some cojones, and this one certainly did.

Parker Stuard and his girlfriend, Micah, from Tennessee, recently invited their family to watch as they opened smoke canisters to announce the gender of their first (and possibly last!) child. As they stood smiling at each other on the deck, their family counted down to the special moment, but as soon as Parker opened his canister, he was unable to celebrate his baby boy given the cannister’s cap was launched into his groin.

The stunt backfired. Literally.

Parker decided to share the hilarious event, and his pain, on Facebook, where it has received hundreds of thousands of views. He captioned it with “I reckon one child will be enough!”, with one of his friends commenting, “I laughed way harder than i should have!”

Micah posted another video to Facebook shot from an alternate angle, this time in painful slow-mo. She captioned the post “guess we’re never having kids again!”

At least when this dad looks back on his 15 minutes of fame, he can definitely say he had a blast.

Check out how another family in Florida used an alligator for their gender reveal.

It’s no secret that we as parents will opt for – and even seek out – versions of everyday products that are co-branded with the latest new movie or popular cartoon attached. It’s often an ill-fated attempt at making mundane routines a little easier with our kids.

Whether it’s Paw Patrol toothpaste to encourage them to brush, or yogurt with Anna and Elsa on the package, companies know that the littlest consumers are often calling the shots, and we as parents just want them to brush their teeth and finish their damn lunch.

So when it comes to diaper time, parents will take any help available to distract the tiny little terrors just long enough to wipe their butts and strap them back in. Brands like Huggies have been printing familiar characters on their diapers for years, so it likely comes as no surprise that with Toy Story 4 now in theaters, these bad boys have hit shelves around the country.

So when Emilee Webber posted an open letter to Huggies regarding the placement of the characters on their latest branded briefs, parents all over the United States reacted to her good-humored review.

Ah, yes. A little classic product placement humor goes a long way. Her post is now sitting at 77k shares with 28k parents sounding off in the comments or tagging their spouses. It seems Webber isn’t the only parent who has dealt with a version of the exact same scenario playing out in their own homes.

We can thank Emilee for sharing her experience and reminding parents everywhere that if we don’t remember to laugh at these little moments, we’ll kick ourselves when they stop talking to us altogether in their teens.

Animal shelters around the country are dealing with record numbers of felines coming through their doors, a situation that has those in charge of day-to-day operations searching for solutions.

Thanks to a bright idea at one local shelter in Muncie, Indiana, people were recently able to lend a hand while helping themselves in the process. Muncie Animal Care & Services posted an intriguing offer on their Facebook page, thanks to the help of their local police department.

With over 350+ cats and kittens being cared for at the overwhelmed shelter, local officers came up with a pretty awesome idea. Anyone in the jurisdiction who had unpaid parking tickets would be allowed to donate food, litter or bedding for cats in need in lieu of cash payments. 

It all began when Investigator Jamie Brown was helping her daughter, Caroline Brown, who works at the Muncie shelter care. After seeing the sheer number of animals being cared for along with the number of supplies the employees need each and every day, Brown was inspired to do more.

Thanks to a coordinated effort with the city clerks office, the Muncie Police Department and Muncie Animal Care, individuals were able to bring in unpaid parking tickets, even several at a time, along with donations of goods such as wet and dry food, cleaning supplies and cat carriers to help the shelter deal with the almost unbelievable number of pets waiting for new homes.

People around the country sent in cash donations and ordered supplies to be delivered to the shelter. As for the ticket fees, Muncie PD posted this photo on Friday, saying donations poured in from both those paying fines as well as individuals simply looking to help.

While the donations were a welcome addition, the shelter, and many in communities around the nation will need help all year long. Consider making a donation, volunteering your time or if you’re able, adopting an animal who’s looking for a home. Your local Humane Society is a great place to start.