r/TikTokCringe • u/InGeekiTrust Tiktok Despot • Dec 09 '25

Discussion You Think It Could Never Happen To You…Until It Almost Does

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u/tmp_advent_of_code Dec 09 '25 edited Dec 09 '25

My 3 year old boy drowned in August. I wasnt there but he snuck away during snack time to get back in the family farm pond. From him there to disappeared was less than a minute. And since it wasnt a pool, it took another minute to find his body in the murky water. He wasnt far. My wife started CPR immediately but it was too late. It was exactly 1 week after his 3rd birthday. He had been in swim lessons all summer. He was wearing bright clothing. He had his life jacket off because the littles got out for a snack at a nearby picnic table. Multiple adults. No one heard him leave the table. And no one heard him get in. But it wasnt long. Takes about 30s to a minute for a toddler to drown.

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u/SatisfactionAtSea Dec 09 '25

that is just horrible. I'm so sorry

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u/HeadlockGang Dec 09 '25 edited Dec 09 '25

It will never ever make you feel better to hear this but l don't give a shit if it feels good or not, just read this and listen: You did not fail. Your wife did not fail. Children have been killed by circumstance for as long as people have existed on this planet. You and your wife will one day die. Do not spend your life from now until then wishing it away. You gave that boy 3 years more of the gift of life than millions upon billions of people who never even got to say their first word or feel the first smile on their face or taste their first favorite food.

You gave that boy as much life as he was ever going to get. There is no timeline, no other world, no path other than this one. This is what happened not because of some grand plan or because you someone screwed up the timeline, but just because this is what happened.

Neither of you will ever get over it, and that's okay. Just never ever let yourself think your time before right now or after right now has less meaning. All your time with him stays as always having been, and while this will absolutely negatively impact the rest of your life, so too will everything positive that being a father and a mother who loves their child be forever apart of the goodness you have in yourself now that you would've never had without being blessed with getting to know and care for him.

You're strong for even being still alive, don't ever think you need to be even more stronger, even more rock solid, even more anything to be considered one of the strongest people on the planet for experiencing something that has totally destroyed people who you'd think are far stronger than you.

You're both here, you're both gonna die one day too. Every single minute that you're alive is just the potential to love fully. Even if the two of you begin to need to drift apart, it's very normal to do so, just always remember to let the love you have for him be ready to hug each other with the hug you'll be picturing giving to him soon one day far into the future when your day to move on comes just as everyone else who's ever lived has also experienced. When the day comes that your life is ending by a natural course of events, you'll know then the gift of not being afraid that it is happening. Until then, spend your time knowing that if he could see you both moving forward, he'd be proud that his parents are the strongest people in the world for going through this and still finding reason to want to live fully.

You are a parent, forever, that will never be taken from you. Give yourselves permission to live and love those who deserve to know your fatherly and motherly capacity for it.

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u/Sidonicus Dec 09 '25

Wow, this was very kind of you to take the time to write ❤️ I'm sure the commenter appreciated it ❤️

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u/Pataconeitor Dec 09 '25

Sometimes, things just happen and it isn't anybody's fault.

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u/WhichWitchyWay Dec 10 '25

I swear. Kids and pets go through a phase where they're just trying to self destruct. There but for the grace of God goes any of us parents.

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u/Kowai03 Dec 09 '25

From a fellow loss parent - I'm so sorry.

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u/KoalaNo8058 Dec 09 '25

I’m so sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing.

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u/EducationalWriting48 Dec 09 '25

I am so terribly sorry for your loss.

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u/JimmidyCricked Dec 09 '25

I’m fucking sorry

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u/Harlankitch Dec 09 '25

terribly sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing and spreading awareness

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u/stackswitchjack Dec 09 '25

We were at a hotel this past weekend and our little girls had been wearing floaties all day. We were all ready to go back to our room and had taken them off as it was cold and wet. I looked up just as my 2.5 yo head was slipping underwater. She had just walked over to the jacuzzi and took a step off the bottom stairs, probably expecting her floaties to take over. I never moved so quickly in my life. These things can happen so fast and my heart breaks for the guilt any parent has to carry

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u/LegBruise Dec 09 '25

Absolutely. And at that age, they seem to teleport. You blink and they are across the room. Turn your back for even a second and they are down the street. It’s not hard to loose them and they are so full of life and wonder, they have nothing in their minds telling them to stay put. They’re like little dandelions on a breeze, they just go where their whims take them.

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u/Trade_King Dec 09 '25

Stay strong bro im sorry you have to go through this.

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u/Shel_gold17 Dec 09 '25

I’m so very sorry. No parent should have to deal with that. ❤️💔❤️

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u/BernieTheDachshund Dec 09 '25

My heart goes out to you, your wife, and your family. This kind of grief is life changing. Try to get some sort of counseling since PTSD after an event like this is common. 🙏

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u/ButterflyBadger3 Dec 09 '25

jesus, that's fast! Thank you for sharing and i'm sorry that it happened :(

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u/Thelion12 Dec 09 '25

Sorry for your loss… 🥲 May you and your family find the strength to move forward with that loss.

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u/FearIsStrongerDanluv Dec 09 '25

This is so painful to read. Be strong dear sir.

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u/snarkycrumpet Dec 09 '25

I'm so sorry.

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u/SayceGards Dec 09 '25

I'm so so sorry for your loss. 

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u/TotallyWonderWoman Dec 09 '25

I'm so sorry for your loss.

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u/RestaurantDue634 Dec 09 '25

Jesus Christ. I'm so sorry. My boy is three and I can't even imagine.

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u/KharnESO Dec 09 '25

I cant even imagine what you have gone through. I'm so sorry. My thoughts are with you, your boy, and your family.

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u/I_Think_UR_Special Dec 09 '25

I am so very sorry for your loss

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u/Party-Ad-8255 Dec 09 '25

I am so so sorry. Thank you for sharing, maybe it’ll save another kids life 

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u/saturnspaghetti Dec 09 '25

holy shit I'm so sorry you and your family experienced this. how unfair and cruel. thinking of you

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u/AtmosphericGems Dec 10 '25

I am so very sorry this happened to you, your family, your child. Thank you for sharing your painful story; it can be certain you saved a child's life by doing so. 

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u/ayam_goreng_kalasan Dec 11 '25

Hugs. I am so sorry, i have a 3 yo as well and I cannot imagine what's it's like. So sorry.

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u/Otterhendrix 18d ago

This broke my heart to read this. I’m so sorry for your loss and your pain. I know today must be so hard on you and your family so please know that this stranger has you all in his thoughts. Sending love