One of the most touching moments in the compilation comes when Petelin tells Elizabeth, as he did every year, that he and her mother love her and wish her a happy school year. The final clip shows 17-year-old Elizabeth jokingly predicting that her dad is going to cry. Petelin, trying to hold back his emotions, simply replies, “No. I love you.” The video then cuts to a much younger Elizabeth, sweetly responding, “I love you too. Is the school bus here now?”
The emotional journey didn’t just resonate with TikTok viewers; Petelin also shared the video on his X account (formerly known as Twitter), where it received an outpouring of support. One user, who had seen the video on TikTok, commented, “Saw it on TikTok earlier, so cool! Have a 7-month-old daughter at home and already hitting me in the feels.” Petelin responded with words of wisdom: “It flies by, but nothing is more rewarding… Nothing.”
Another dad, inspired by Petelin’s tradition, asked whether he should start something similar with his daughter, who was about to start daycare. Petelin encouraged him, saying, “The earlier the better. When Elizabeth graduated preschool, she wanted to ‘be a mermaid, but not a real mermaid because I still want to live with my mommy and daddy.’”
For anyone watching Petelin’s video, it’s hard not to get emotional. His dedication to documenting his daughter’s growth and his ability to cherish every moment serves as a beautiful reminder to parents everywhere: time with our children is precious, and it passes in the blink of an eye. Whether it’s through videos, photos, or simple memories, capturing these moments ensures they’ll be treasured forever.
