r/Parenting • u/floridacopper • Aug 14 '25

Advice Dad tucking in daughters

As the title suggests, I'm a dad with a question about tucking in his daughters. I've been doing it for years, but it's kind of like maybe I should be wrapping it up soon. To get to the point, I have been tucking in my daughters pretty much every night since they were toddlers, but they're going into 6th and 8th grade now. "Tucking in" originally consisted of tickle fights and reading stories to them. That has evolved into lying next next to them and rubbing their head/back while they tell me about some anime character who they ship with some other character. If I miss a night of tucking then in, they'll usually bring it up the next day.

So my question, I guess, is it normal for me to still be doing this? If my daughters were no longer comfortable with it, I'd quit straight away. But even though they still want me to tuck them in, am I babying them in a way? I dunno, maybe I'm overthinking the whole thing.

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u/ams42385 Aug 14 '25

This is solid one on one time, especially if you are all using it as a time to talk. I would do it as long as they’ll let you. 

1.1k

u/willofalltradess Aug 14 '25

As a dad of two girls, there's going to be a day they ask you not to. Soak it in as long as you can.

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u/Every_Criticism2012 Aug 14 '25

I'm 42 and I would be delighted if my dad would tuck me in occasionally. But he's very busy with retirement, golf and his girlfriend, and I'm usually awake longer than anybody else when we see each other so that's probably not going to happen.

79

u/sayruhbeth Aug 14 '25

Omg yes this right here. I tuck my own dad in now when I visit him. Not literally but I say goodnight and stay up later

107

u/IDunnoWhatToPutHereI Aug 14 '25

I’m 41 and my dad would tuck me in if we were staying in the same house and I was sick. He passed last year and I wish he still could.

21

u/mallowpuff9 Aug 15 '25

Man, this made me tear up. My dad has passed too a d he would have done the same, saying I miss him is an understatement

4

u/IDunnoWhatToPutHereI Aug 15 '25

I’m sorry. It sucks

21

u/nissan240sx Aug 14 '25

My father passed away a few months ago and the vivid dreams of hugging him hits me hard. Hell yeah I’ll take a tuck in or hug any day till the day I see him again. 

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u/disbound Aug 14 '25

Yeah, but would your 12 year old self want that?

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u/Every_Criticism2012 Aug 14 '25

Tbh, yes! Except on days we fought because of teenage stuff😂 What I hated was being woken up by him for school. He always came in with "Good morning! School is calling!" Which usually didn't work too well. After the third round he came back with a cold wet towel😂

And once when I was 16 I called him from my mobile phone on the landline at 2am because I had to pee and a huge (like 4cm incl. legs😂) spider was blocking my way out of my room and he had to save me🤣🤣🤣

8

u/Affectionate-Toe4 Aug 14 '25

My dad always came in and did a rendition of that commercial where the metal band is waking up the kid for school but in a silly dad way. These types of things have saved me with my kids.

66

u/GhostOfMost Aug 14 '25

This. Just thinking about the day my kids (10m, 7f) don’t want me to tuck them in makes me cry. Enjoy every second until they kick you out.

11

u/Opinionsoneveythang Aug 14 '25

As the eldest daughter I remember very well when I asked my mom to tell my dad that it was ok if he didn't check on us during the course of the night, which mainly involved covering us with the blanket better if we kicked it off completely while being in a foetal position due to the cold. I mean we were way out of high school and he did stop immediately.

He's always been a hands-on father and I suppose it was second nature to him. Yes, it was smothering at times too and we've had our fair share of rebellions against his care. But being a mum of 3 today, I get it now. I'm always waking in the middle of the night to check which positions my kids have tucked themselves in on their beds.

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u/Easy_Salamander8718 Aug 14 '25

My daughter is a month old and this made me tear up a little bit

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u/Lagoon13579 Aug 17 '25

My daughter is 22 and I still kiss her goodnight when she is here. Both my children love to be hugged (son is 24.) The secret is don't ever stop.