When you’re parenting a mixed-race child, there are distinct challenges you might face. Many times, people refuse to believe that you’re your child’s parent. You might have to endure looks and accusations both publicly and privately, and it can be exhausting. Recently, one dad was arrested after strangers accused him of kidnapping his own daughter.
Now, the dad is searching for ways that he can make his relationship to his children more obvious, so he can avoid similar problems in the future. After the ordeal, he’s genuinely concerned about his family’s safety.
The dad took his concerns to social media.
The 44-year-old dad posted on Reddit’s AITA forum. He has four kids: an 11-year-old boy, two 3-year-old girls, and a 10-month-old boy. Describing himself as “Blasian,” he claims his features look more Black than Asian. His wife is Japanese, and one of his daughters is “very light-skinned.”
“I was at the store with 11M, 3F, and 3F. We were shopping like normal, and my girls were asking for candy. I said no, and like a normal three-year-old, they started crying and throwing a temper tantrum and were refusing to leave. So, I picked them up, and I started leaving the store,” he explained.
What happened next was incredibly scary.
The dad shared that he’s 6’7″ and over 250 pounds, which makes him stick out in public. “I’m also deaf, so I did not hear the woman who yelled that I was kidnapping my own daughter,” he explained.
“Before I knew it, I’m being punched by some guy, and my daughter was snatched from my hands. I was trying to figure out what was going on, and then cops showed up,” he continued.
His 11-year-old son was trying to sign for him, but it wasn’t helping. “I’m pinned to the ground and in handcuffs so tight I still have marks (it’s been five days). I was arrested, shoved in the back of a cop car, while my kids got taken into custody,” he said.
He doesn’t know how to make things easier for his family.
He says this isn’t the first time something like this has happened. But now he’s worried. “I know it’s extreme not to take my daughter into public unless there’s someone who actually looks like her with me, but I’m so worried there’s gonna be a day I don’t make it into those cuffs, and my kids don’t have a dad anymore,” he shared.
“So, WIBTA, if I stop taking my daughter out in public without my partner?” he wondered.
Some people had ideas about how to handle it.
“I assume this is America,” one comment starts out. “So I would get the girls a t-shirt with your picture holding both girls, with Daddy’s Girl printed on it. Then sue whoever you need to.”
Another suggested: “Maybe get her a shirt that says ‘I’m with my daddy!!’ Also, sue the f— out of the police department.”
Many people suggested pressing charges and getting police involved.
In his post, he added an edit to explain what he did next.
“I will be pressing charges,” he explained. “I will be informing my father in law who is the chief of police and I will be getting matching outfits bracelets, accessories family shirt or something like that I will not be taking my daughter out in public alone until we get that stuff.”
Police will be taking action.
The man explained that his father-in-law was “p–ed” about what happened. “He sent an email to the police I described and will be reprimanding them,” the dad explained.
According to the dad, his father-in-law told him, “I will not stand for this.” He continued, saying that his FIL was glad to be told. “I told him not to mention me and the incident that caused the investigation. He is just going to say it’s because of some reports—that way, it’s not obvious. He will send any evidence to help my case,” the dad said.
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