Boy Becomes Man of the House While Dad Is in the Service – Story of the Day

After his mother meets with an accident, a little boy steps into a grown-up’s shoes and becomes the man of the house while his dad is deployed in the military.

Arlo was six when his mother, Lara, found love again in John, a man who was overly devoted to his country. John was a soldier, and when Lara married him, she thought he would be enough to put her naughty little son in place with strict rules and discipline.

Arlo brawled for even the silliest things and made a scene for almost everything. He would quarrel with his little sister, Maya, for candies, pull her pigtails and invite her to fight! The things Arlo did! They would be funny and annoying, and anybody would want to yell at him, only to melt at seeing his big, brown eyes screaming, ‘sorry, ’twas a mistake! I’ll not do it again!”

Lara and her two kids from her previous failed marriage moved in with John after the wedding. Two years ticked away in bliss, but things slowly slid downhill for the family after John grew jealous of the love between his wife and stepkids…

Arlo, who was then eight, started noticing the differences in his stepfather’s attitude. John would scold him for simple things like not giving him the TV remote or laughing with his mom in the kitchen.

“When I was your age, I learned to help my parents. I did all the housework. Look at you. Your mother spoiled you so much,” he often told off little Arlo, who could do nothing but hang his head down and then stare at his mom with big, pleading eyes.

The boy often thought, ‘what the hell is wrong with my dad?’ but would let it slide, doing things kids his age did, like listening to music, roller skating, or bike riding.

Day by day, John’s cold attitude toward his family, especially the kids, worsened. He stopped giving attention to the children and did not take part in their upbringing at all. Since Lara worked in a private bank, he held her responsible for raising them on her own. Not that John was running away from his duties as a family man. But he was just not ready to do anything out of his way for his wife and children. He loved Lara but was not yet mentally prepared to accept her kids.

Although Lara was unhappy with the transitions in John’s behavior, particularly toward her son, she could not say much. She was afraid he would leave her like her ex-husband, and coping without him was the biggest worry that haunted her. Lara was not ready to take that risk again and silently endured John’s coldness.

One day, John was called back to the military base due to an emergency. Lara knew the depths to which her husband loved his country. Although she was upset he was leaving too quickly, she could not help but fake a smile. She worried about Arlo and his tantrums because he was obedient...