“Please Lift Her”: Dad Gives Daughter Fist Bump After Not Seeing Her in 2 Years, SA Disappointed

• A father visited her daughter after 2 years apart, and after a few moments of recognition, she ran towards him with excitement
• Instead of hugging, the father greeted her as if she was his mate, surprising many viewers who felt he could have been more affectionate
• The clip sparked a huge debate online, with some criticising the lack of a hug, while others warned about focusing too much on social media over genuine warmth
• Briefly News sat down with psychologist and relationship expert Penny Holburn to explore the effects of prolonged parent-child separation

Parenting is a beautiful experience, full of moments that capture the essence of love, growth, and connection. Children have a unique way of expressing their emotions, and even the smallest acts, like a smile, a laugh, or a hug, can warm our hearts in ways that words cannot. These pure and genuine reactions reminding us of the power of affection, and how much it can mean in strengthening the bonds we share with our loved ones.

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A father, TikTok user @wandile2080, shared a video showing off a child's love for a parent when he reconnected with her after two years apart, but social media users were unhappy with how he greeted her.

Daddy visits daughter after years of not seeing her

The clip starts as the little girl spots a familiar face from a distance. After a few moments of quietly looking at him, trying to recognise the person, she suddenly runs towards him, beaming with joy. When she reaches him, instead of the expected hug, the father gives her a fist bump and the two walk along together.

Watch the TikTok video below:

Briefly News spoke with psychologist and relationship expert Penny Holburn about how prolonged separation impacts parent-child bonds and ways to rebuild trust and closeness. She said:

"Prolonged separation is never good for a relationship - especially between child and parent. However, depending on what has happened during the separation the situation could be better or worse. If the missing parent has been belittled and criticised in front of the child, the child could actually come to dislike the missing parent and meeting up again could be especially hard.

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If the missing parent has been spoken about, the child has been told the parent loves them although they cannot be around, the child will be much happier to see the parent. When you are dealing with children of primary school age, the adults the child spends time with, will have a big influence on the bond between the child and missing parent.

As children become teenagers so they are better able to see a situation with their own eyes and work out for themselves what is going on."

SA comments on the dad's gesture towards his daughter

The clip sparked a heated debate online. Some viewers felt that after such a long separation, the father should have embraced his daughter with a warm, considering how she ran towards him in excitement when she recognised his face. Others pointed out that the fist bump was still a positive gesture, but acknowledged that the daughter was probably expecting to be picked up.

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User @RicardoBouverie said:

"That run was deserving of a warm hug followed by a kiss on the forehead."

User @Meta4 shared:

"Normalise giving a girl child a warm hug!!"

User @AmandaSangweni added:

"The way she ran shows she was expecting a big hug. Uze umqukule (please lift her). She was disappointed at the fist bump 🥺."

User @Tanazi said:

"I’m proud of you 🥺🥺❤️❤️❤️some fathers never went to see their kids even after 20 years beyazi indlela eya kubo komama wabo fth bazi ukuth (knowing where they live, and aware that), they have kids there."

User @Ma-Vilakazi❤️ commented:

"I'm so happy for you bro, I wish my dad could see this and come and see us after so many years, I miss him so much."

User @MbaliCele advised:

"Please hug the child."

3 Briefly News articles about fathers

• A ticked-off father took his boerwors out of his son's mouth after he grabbed it and took a huge bite without asking at a restaurant.
• An absent father sent his soon-to-graduate daughter a message saying he would attend the ceremony with his sister, but she reminded him of all the times he had been neglectful.
• A young girl got emotional, missing her father whom she had not seen for some time, and the mom reminded her that they called him and sent him messages, which he ignored.

Source: Briefly News