Mom dreads leaving her baby for work each morning—what Grandpa does next is melting hearts

For so many working moms, leaving a young baby at home during the workday feels like ripping off a Band-Aid—except it doesn’t heal quickly.

But for Sarah Lorsung Tvrdik, 40, her father’s quiet act of love has made all the difference in that painful transition. In a heartwarming Instagram reel with 3.1 million views, Sarah shared that her retired dad, Phillip Lorsung, 70, brings her baby daughter to her workplace every day so they can have lunch together. And honestly? It’s melting hearts everywhere.

Related: 81% of working moms face burnout while ‘managing it all,’ Gallup study finds

“My retired dad brings my 8-month-old to my work every day so I can have lunch with her,” Tvrdik wrote in the caption. “I was nervous about missing her too much when I returned to work. Love you, Dad.”

The sweetest lunchtime tradition

After freelancing for years, Tvrdik recently transitioned to full-time, in-office work. But leaving her then-7-month-old daughter behind each morning? That was tough. That’s when her dad stepped up.

“My dad generously volunteered to bring her up to visit me over my lunch break,” she told Newsweek. “I wasn’t sure how well it would work, but most days he goes to pick her up and brings her to me, and we sit in my car and have lunch and catch up.”

What began as a small offer turned into a beloved daily ritual. Tvrdik spends her lunch break sharing fruit with her teething baby and catching up with her dad—a pocket of calm in the middle of a busy day. And on days her dad can’t make it? Her mom steps in to keep the visits going.

“It’s been really lovely having so much one-on-one time with my parents—something I have never really had during my workday in the past.”

The gift of time

For Tvrdik, these daily visits aren’t just sweet—they’re soul-saving.

“It feels great,” she said. “I look forward to my lunch hour, and it really fills my cup, kind of giving me a boost of energy to power through the rest of the day.”

And in this season of life, she knows better than anyone just how fleeting this time really is.

“The time goes so fast, and you won’t get it back… My dad had a stroke a little over a year ago, and although he is in great health now, more time with anyone is never a 100 percent guarantee.”

Even commenters were quick to point out how rare and special this is:

• “And your dad gets to have lunch with his baby too ❤️” @haley.flower
• “This dad is pure gold” @imjessicatapia
• “Is this a service that I can subscribe to? Cute grandpa baby delivery?” @ janetherevelator

A legacy of love

Phillip Lorsung’s commitment to his family runs deep. Before retiring, he ran a home improvement business for more than 30 years—and now helps his son manage it. Sarah describes him as the kind of man who never hesitates to help someone in need.

“He is a very hard worker and would give anyone the shirt off his back—literally, I have seen him stop and help strangers countless times in my life,” she said.

Now, his time and energy are focused on what matters most: family.

“It feels like something I will never be able to quantify or repay. Like, is there an award I can give him for being so selfless? Maybe I’ll have one made at one of those trophy places—not joking.”

For Tvrdik, this act of love has given her something that money can’t buy: more time with the people who matter most.

“This being my third child, I am horrifyingly aware of how fast it really goes and that this is such a gift of time back,” she said. “For five extra hours a week, I get to see both of them and stay caught up about our day-to-day lives. These conscious gestures have had an overflow effect into the rest of our lives, for the better.”

Because sometimes, the smallest gestures have the biggest impact.

Working moms, take heart: If you’re dreading the transition back to work, know this—you don’t have to do it alone. Whether it’s a grandparent, a friend, or even a coworker, leaning on your village can turn hard days into healing ones.

Related: 5 reasons why hybrid schedules are my dream as a working mom