Dad writes nearly 700 lunch notes to comfort bullied daughter at school
Little Addison was about to start in her fourth school in five years but her parents noticed something was off with her. She was “more reserved than normal” and “anxious” about it.
That’s when Chris Yandle and his wife found out that Addison was a victim of bullying. The bully was her friend.
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Chris, 39, wrote an encouraging lunch note for his daughter saying, “Be nice to others. Not everyone will look like you. Learn to spot the unique and special things in other people. You have the power to change someone’s life!”
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The Louisiana father of two wanted to make Addison’s day better.
“To me, it was my way of saying ‘I’m here,’ without actually sitting next to her at lunch,” Chris said.
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Chris kept at it, leaving notes in her bag. He didn’t think too much of it, or if Addison even read them, until one day when Addison reminded him to leave a note. He knew then that his messages of positivity helped her.
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He has written Addison over 690 notes to date. In 2018, he wrote and published a book on them called “Lucky Enough.”
“When I shared that first note, I never imagined this or that anyone would pay attention,” Chris said. “I thought I would fade into the background as a regular dad who does something nice for his daughter. What’s happened this year is beyond my wildest expectations.”
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Chris accepts the fact that the book won’t make him a famous author, but his aim was to help other parents deal with the same situation.
Chris was just six months into a new job before he began writing notes for Addison. The family had been moving from city to city as he looked for new opportunities. He began to feel like a failure in terms of his career and as a dad as he could not provide for them.
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He also felt bad for not being there for them.
“With each note I wrote, I was hoping I’d hate myself less because I was trying to be a dad again and help Addison’s anxiety with a new school,” Chris said.
Chris and Addison have a stronger relationship thanks to the notes. His thoughtfulness allowed for his daughter to open up to him and he hopes will help her build good character and morals.
Way more important than the grades she’ll bring home.
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In the four years of writing those notes, Chris began to learn more about himself. He’s also come to terms with his supposed failures and has learned to forgive himself in the process.
“We wouldn’t be having these daily conversations had it not been for losing my job,” he said. “Our relationship would be completely different than what it is today.”
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Addison is now a teenager and Chris hopes she’ll grow into a strong, confident woman. He is now writing notes for his son, Jackson. The dad’s advice to other parents is this: “Listen to your kids and be present. That’s all that matters to them.”
Watch the video below for more on Chris and his amazing idea!
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Source: My Positive Outlooks