published on in News

Dad embraces 9-year-old son's love of sewing, shakes off bullies

A little boy has touched the hearts of millions after his father shared the sweet moment he was given a sewing machine for his birthday.

Father-of-three Aaron Gouveia said his nine-year-old son Sam has a passion for sewing which has meant he’s been the target of cruel taunts.

“He’s been bullied in the past for painting his nails and his love of sewing,” Aaron shared in his TikTok video

“But that didn’t stop him from being the only boy at sewing camp.”

In the touching video, Sam excitedly unwraps his birthday present to find a professional sewing machine inside.

“Oh my god it’s a box….it’s a SEWING MACHINE… wait, what kind is it?… IT’S A SINGER!” Sam screams. 

Sam excitedly unwraps his birthday present to find a professional sewing machine inside. TikTok/@daddyfiles
“IT’S A SINGER!” Sam screams.  TikTok/@daddyfiles

“It has a seam ripper with it. It even has its own buttons!”

While Aaron was widely praised for allowing his son to pursue his dreams, he confesses he hasn’t always been so comfortable with his children breaking gender norms.

“I have to admit I do feel a little guilty because some of the comments have been like, ‘oh what a great, supportive dad’. Maybe it’s because it’s novel to see a dad advocate for things like sewing,” Aaron said. 

“Because I’ve got to tell you, my oldest son is 14 and I distinctly remember when he was a baby and I was in my 20s when we had him, and I remember (my wife) put him in pink socks and I lost my mind. I was that guy, I’ve changed a lot, but I’ve only changed because of my wife first and foremost.”

“My wife was always on the right side of this and she deserves all the credit for how our kids turned out and the person I am today.”

The ecstatic boy was thrilled by the response to his video, too.

“It made me feel very good, it made me feel like boys can do whatever they want,” he beamed in a follow-up video, before showing off some scrunchies he’d made on his new machine.

His dad added: “It’s so wonderful to have such wonderful comments from strangers all over the world, they are life affirming.”

“For someone like Sam who has severe ADHD, ODD and some mild depressive tendencies he has a hard time this has bolstered him in a way that is real and tangible and you all did that and I can’t thank you enough.”

“It has a seam ripper with it,” Sam excitedly announces in the video. TikTok/@daddyfiles
Sam has “been bullied in the past for painting his nails and his love of sewing,” his dad explained. TikTok/@daddyfiles

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