Single mum dresses as dad for dad and doughnut day
When her son told her about the dad’s and doughnut day, her "heart sank".
By Livia Gamble
February 13 2017
A single mum has been praised for the extraordinary lengths she went to for her son.
Mum of two, Whitney Kittrell, from Utah dressed as a man for her 5-year-old son Lucas’ 'dad doughnut' day at school.
Sharing a picture of the two online, Kittrell wrote: "When I became a single mum over 3 years ago I made a promise with myself that I would do anything I could, even if it meant going out of my comfort zone, to give my kids a "normal" life and the same experiences as other kids."
She added: “We have accomplished a lot. Trips alone, teaching my son how to play catch, killing bugs with minimal screaming, countless memories, and a normal life.”
When her son told her about the dad’s and doughnut day, her "heart sank".
“I finally sat him down and asked if he wanted to ask his grandpa to go. He just smiled and said "no. I want you to go. You're my mum and dad.
“So this morning I gathered up my best dad outfit, painted on some facial hair, and went to breakfast with my sweet son," she wrote.
Despite the embarrassment she felt, it was all worth it to her son smile.
"I was so embarrassed but I couldn't help but smile when he introduced me to his little friends saying "this is my mom... she's my dad too so I brought her!"
Since posting the photo, it has been shared over 90,000 times.
Speaking to ABC News:, Kittrell said, "It's been very overwhelming seeing the response.
"I've had kids that were raised by single parents reach out and thank me to let me know that [we] are not alone. I'm just an ordinary mom. I'm doing what anybody else will do, but as a single parent a lot of times you feel alone and isolated, but there are other people that are going through the exact same thing. I'm so grateful to see the positive impact it's making."
"I've heard of other mums going and not necessarily wearing a beard but dressing up like a guy and going so I said, 'That'd be funny why not?'" Kittrell recalled. "I didn't do it for the attention of dressing up like that. I knew it would make him laugh. I knew it was something he would think is funny. He helped me pick the paint out for the beard and it was really fun."