Son Of A Single Mom Reaches Out To Dad With A Heartbreaking Message After Being Blocked—’I Exist’

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‘Hello are you my dad’ a messaging chat app reads on October 25, 2022. Below the screenshot is the app’s update: 

‘This person is unavailable on Messenger’.

This is the story told by a screenshot of Leon, a 12-year-old boy, who posted the photo on his Facebook account that has gone viral. He says it’s been a year since he’s reached out to his father to say hello, but received such a response.

His caption on his Facebook account reads: “It's been almost a year and remember when I sent a message to this man. He is my dad. I figured I'd say hi to him and maybe get the chance to meet him. My mom is okay with it. She even told me to do good at school, get a job and go find him someday to ask him why he left me. 

“A few minutes after this message was sent, he blocked me. I mean this might not reach him but, in case it does, I'm 12 now and about to graduate from elementary soon, I've grown up. 

“I love cats, and my favorite subject is science. I love playing computer games and with my Nintendo Switch. I know it wont make sense because you blocked me, but I exist. My mom taught me how to pray and I will always pray for you too. I'm not mad at you. And thank you.”

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‘He doesn’t deserve you’

He posted on October 12 and as of this writing it has received 68,000 reactions, 1,600 comments, and 18,000 shares.

Some of the comments read: “He doesn't deserve you baby boy,” and other praises for his disposition. “You’re such a good kid!! No matter what happens, I hope you continue to keep your big heart. HUGS!”

Other comments praised his mom’s parenting, “Oh baby boy my heart aches for you. But it shows that your mother has done a great job in raising you. Okay lang yan kahit walang reply galing sa biological father mo. At least you tried and you'll have no what if's sa huli.”

'He never really needed to ask me if he can reach out to his dad, it's always an open book. I've always told him to do it when he feels like he's ready' —Lendyl Cabuslay

Some single mothers left comments because it reminded them of their own children, “It made me cry. You are so blessed in many different ways baby boy and you are loved by many.. I have two sons who are 8 and 4 years old.. Same situation as you but I pray that someday they won't feel the pain I'm going through..God bless.”

Be the better person

His mother, Lendyl Cabuslay, a virtual assistant, spoke exclusively to Smart Parenting to explain that she and Leon last heard from his father when he was two years old. “I never kept the identity of his father a secret to him. He left before Leon turned 2 years old and we've never heard from him again after. Regardless, I never really thought of passing the pain that I felt then, onto my son. 

She adds, “When the topic of his father comes up, I always see to it that I am honest and tell him all the answers to his questions, being careful with the words I use. I even showed him pictures of him. I was not biased in answering his questions, always telling him that his dad has his own side of the story too, always encouraging him to do his best at school so when the time comes, he can look for him and ask him for answers, or maybe explanation.

Lendyl says her son did not ask permission to reach out to his father, and she also did not feel that it was needed. “He never really needed to ask me if he can reach out to his dad, it's always an open book. I've always told him to do it when he feels like he's ready, and I'm always open to talk about him.

RELATED: 'Some People Only See The Man Who Left, Not The Woman Who Stayed': A Single Mom's Message

But when Leon did open up about the response, Lendyl couldn’t help but feel sad. “It was painful. As his mother, I saw his sad little face when he showed me the message. I know it broke him too but I didn't let it get to him. I immediately told him how much I loved him, hugged him, and advised him to be the better person and just continue to understand that his dad might have his own reasons why he does things. 

Lendyl adds, “I'm glad he didn't even show resentment. I told him then that he has God who will never leave us and to keep praying.

Being a single mother is not easy and Lendyl says prayers and hope is how she faces the challenges, with Leon as her reason. “I always do my best to get back on my feet, with Leon as my motivation. It's hard being a solo parent, but I made it. I suffered from depression too but I never allowed Leon to feel it. I always tell myself it's for my son, he needs me, I'm all he has and I should never fail him.”

Read about a single mother's story on her son being discriminated against because he was being raised in a solo parent home.