Father wears the same shirt every year on 17-year-old daughter's birthday, finds out man who made the shirt also wore it to his daughter's birth and they both lost their dads at 16, sparking wholesome connection: 'Who started cutting onions'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Nov 7, 2025 10:00 PM EST

Sometimes coincidence is just too powerful to ignore. Call it the hands of fate or call it a random collision of odds in our absurd universe, either way, you have to acknowledge when it happens. And when you start looking for coincidences, you'll soon find that they are all around us. You and your friend happen to text each other at the exact same time, out of the blue. That song you were thinking about all day comes up on shuffle. You find out that a random stranger on the internet designed the shirt you wore to your daughter's birth and every day since, also wore that shirt to his daughter's birth, and you both have dads who passed away when you were 16. Life is crazy like that. 

The internet brought together two men in a pretty spectacular way after one of them asked an innocent question about the origin of his shirt. He had no idea it would unfold into something that would help heal the whole internet. That stuff only happens every once in a while. 

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  • Every now and then, Reddit will produce a story that couldn't have been produced anywhere else. The seas of change all conspired to make a really wholesome happening, and we all get to enjoy it. This thread is one of those moments. Do yourself a favor and scroll on to read the story.

  • I've worn this shirt for the last 17 years, only on my daughter's birthday. Who is it?!

    Cheezburger Image 10573194752
    via u/Leather_Food_5978
  • CAPRISUN
    via u/Leather_Food_5978
  • eightthirteen A
    via u/Leather_Food_5978
  • I bought this in Tempe Az at buffalo exchange back in probably 2000. My daughter was born in 2008. I got this picture when she was born. Every year since, I've worn it on her birthday. Every year I've wondered who made this shirt? and what is it? My daughter's name starts with "M", The flag has an "M". It's been my favorite shirt. Hopefully the internet can do its thing
    via u/Leather_Food_5978

  • A lucky commenter had the perfect answer for him.

    Square_Potato_2337. 7d ago M eightthirteen
    via u/Square_Potato_2337
  • The search is over my friend. 813 was a BMX shirt thing I started years ago in Indianapolis IN. 8/13 was my father's birthday. He passed when I was 16 so that's where 813 idea came from. And the M represented his name Max. The flag is kinda at half mast. But the other really cool thing is that when my daughter was born, she weighed 8.13 pounds. And I just happened to be wearing one as well.
    via u/Square_Potato_2337
  • Square_Potato_2337 · 7d ago
    via u/Square_Potato_2337
  • WiseNotEvenClose 7d ago • Omg! Who started cutting onions sweetest thing ever
    via u/WiseNotEvenClose
  • timecrimehero • 6d ago This really is. I get discouraged with social media sometimes but things like this make me so happy we have a site like this one. It's amazing to see connections that would otherwise be impossible. Kudos to you both.
    via u/timecrimehero
  • FrankiekGee · 6d ago This post was at a perfect time for me. I have been in treatment for Stage IV Cancer for 4 years. We thought it was stable but a scan last week shows it has progressed and there are not really any good options for me.
    via u/FrankiekGee
  • I have a 16 year old daughter, and a 10 year old daughter, and I am devastated to be leaving them behind. But seeing these two men who both lost their fathers at 16, makes me realize that, while my kids will grieve, life will go on for them and they will make memories, and can still have happiness. I feel a little less afraid now.
    via u/FrankiekGee
  • Mozart-Luna-Echo 6d ago If you can, write them letters or videos (or emails and leave the password to the account) to be opened at important milestones. Make sure you're recording the advice that you want the to have. Graduation, birthdays, weddings, first heartbreak, first job, etc. I'm so sorry this is happening to you.
    via u/Mozart-Luna-Echo
  • Leather_Food_5978 OP. 7d ago Damn. If true, this may be the coolest way to have this post come to an end. My father past when I was 16. He was a great father. I wanted my daughter to have a good dad and so I've done dumb stuff like this so she'd remember me
    via u/Leather_Food_5978
  • Exiting Bills 7d ago Wait.... So you both lost your father's at the age of 16, and both were wearing the same shirt the day your daughter's were born? And both daughters names start with M, or just one of them. Are you the same guy posting from two accounts? Reddit is wild
    via u/ExitingBills
  • • monotonyismyfriend · 6d ago NYPO
    via u/monotonyismyfriend
  • qjb020 7d ago Stop it guys! You both wore it when your daughter's were bron and both your dads passed away at the same age. Incredible
    via u/qjb020
  • Leather_Food_5978 OP. 7d ago This gets better and better!!! ... except for our dead dads
    via u/Leather_Food_5978
  • glGman61286 · 7d ago I thought you were tom from MySpace
    via u/glGman61286

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childcare Babies wholesome teens aita funny dads fate infant heartwarming kids teenagers parenting dad cute kids coincidence reddit thread parent Reddit raising kids parents children
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