A father from Alberta, Canada, understands the experience all too well.
According to reports, Derek Prue Jr., an 8-year-old boy, was born with a significant birthmark that spans a large portion of his chest. Although the mark didn’t pose any harm to him, it made him feel self-conscious and cautious about the opinions of other children.
In a world where conformity was valued, Derek had no desire to be like everyone else. Unfortunately, his birthmark made him impossible to ignore.
Unbeknownst to him, his father was prepared to go to extraordinary measures to ensure his son’s self-assurance would never waver again.
Speaking to CBC News, Derek shared that his father surprised him one day by getting a tattoo that perfectly matched his son’s birthmark. In a clandestine manner, he revealed it to Derek Jr. while he was frolicking with his sisters in a hotel swimming pool.
Needless to say, Derek was pleasantly surprised.
The young boy gleefully recounted how he tumbled back into the pool.
“I felt a mix of emotions,” Derek expressed. Surprisingly, I was unaware of his intentions.