Young Father ‘Chose Joy’ & Is ‘Thriving’ With The Support Of Single Dads After Baby’s Mother Abandoned Them

Jan 31, 2023

At the beginning of 2015, a man named Richard Johnson welcomed his beautiful daughter into the world. He and his partner named her Persephone, but a month later, her mother abandoned both him and her child. Johnson would later recount the struggles he faced and how he managed to overcome them with perseverance and support from the single dad community on a social networking site.

In a post uploaded to the “Life of Dad” Facebook group in November 2015, Johnson wrote that he suspected Persephone’s mother’s decision was the result of her suffering from post-partum depression. Johnson, who was only 21 at the time, soon realized he did not know just how he was going to take care of this child alone. However, he discovered a community of other fathers out there who were young, single and raising a child alone.

It was a breakthrough for Johnson, as he realized he did have the power to take care of this precious child of his and that it wasn't impossible for him to still be an awesome dad. He shared his story in the group, where it spread like wildfire.

“I had read every ‘new parent’ book I could find and clocked in over 1,000 hours in YouTube videos from everything to braiding hair and painting nails to theories on how to deal with common parental issues. I then started to watch your page more closely and saw that there were other fathers out there who were in similar predicaments as me," he wrote.

"The page started to turn into a major confidence booster and really helped me through all of this. … We’ve come a long way, my daughter and me, and we definitely owe part of that to this page and the people within it."

Their story touched the hearts of so many that Johnson started his own Facebook page to share all the ups and downs of his life with his daughter called “The Johnson Family Experience by Persephone Lilith Johnson.” Followers were happy to read updates on the father-daughter duo, who appeared to be flourishing in their journey together.

In December 2021, Johnson shared a touching update on his and Persephone’s “journey of going from (being) lost to thriving.”

“Almost 7 years ago my life fell apart and I almost gave up on everything,” he began. “We have met challenges but we stood together and tackled them all. As we have taught each other life will throw so much your way and that’s not the point. The point is what you hold on to once you catch it. Will you hold pain or will you hold joy? It’s always up to us. We chose joy and we will never let go of it.”

He then shared the good news that their little family had expanded.

“Our journey may have started as the two of us but some truly extraordinary people have joined our clan. While others left, the ones who stayed have shown us they are here for the long haul. … When we started this, we gained a mother/partner and a sister/daughter. Then we decided it was time to expand our family and welcome another little girl into the world. Together we are the Johnsons. Our family is small and we are not perfect but we are ours,” he wrote.

“I am the father to Persephone and Winry. I joyfully get to also be the bonus Dad to Addy while also having the luxury of enjoying being Autumn’s fiancé. And this is our story now,” he concluded. 

How wonderful is it to see both Richard Johnson and Persephone thrive after such a rocky start? Do you know any amazing single dads out there? Let us know, and be sure to send this on to them to let them know what a great job they are doing!