This Dad Admitted to Being "Jealous" of His Wife and Son's Relationship Until This 1 Moment

Terence Mentor knows that raising kids is chock-full of heartwarming moments — but when you're a dad, sometimes you have to wait a little longer than their mothers for those bonding opportunities to crop up.

"Ever since my youngest, [Eli], was born, he was totally his mother's child. I honestly found their immediate and intense connection beautiful, but even more honestly . . . it made me jealous," Mentor wrote in a Facebook post.

Mentor explained that while he's aware of the natural bond between mom and baby, sometimes the rejection from his son stung a little. "It is quite a thing to be a dad who can't comfort his child, who is constantly told 'No, I go to mommy,' who never seems to have a real, relational moment with his own son," Mentor explained.

Although feeling those pangs of jealously comes with the territory when you aren't the one giving birth or breastfeeding and is totally normal for new dads, sometimes a little patience goes a long way. Mentor wrote, "But then something started to change over last few months. Eli started not just being okay being with me, but occasionally would actually choose me over mommy! Anyway, this trend has continued — and then last night, while he was asleep on his mother's chest (the only place he has always found comfort for the last two years), he got up and, still asleep, cuddled into me."

Mentor said that he felt a tiny bit of guilt for feeling so happy during this moment but got teary-eyed nonetheless. He also thinks his experience can be a powerful lesson to new parents:

"Being a dad is hard, but every bit of emotional and physically energy that you use can be repaid to you in an instant. So maybe you are a parent going through what I have been going through. Keep going. Keep pushing. It will be worth it."