Indoors, young child wearing a white cotton T-shirt with 'I got my daddy back' text holding camouflage-patterned item, surrounded by adults dressed in winter and military attire, carpeted floor, artificial lighting, evening or night setting. 3:03
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Tatum gets his real dad back at daycare

Tatum's dad spent a year away on deployment. In the meantime, the three-year-old let a doll play the part of his father. more

His teacher, Ms. Johnson, once asked him what he would do if he saw his dad again. Tatum didn't need to think it over. He would give him a big squeeze.

Then his dad, Michael, walks into Kids First Daycare Center, and his eyes land on his son right away. Tatum looks shocked. He scrambles to his feet and throws his arms around his dad.

A man in a military uniform holds a small child close while standing indoors near a door. A headline runs in white letters across the lower third.Save
After a year apart, Michael holds his son close.

The year was hard on Tatum's mom, Brittany, too. Her husband chose his career, she explains, but their boys didn't get much say in it. She's glad he is home, and she believes happier days are ahead.

She also hopes people who see this moment will understand what life is like for a military kid. Tatum is only three, and he has already spent half his life apart from his dad.

Indoors, young child wearing a white cotton T-shirt with 'I got my daddy back' text holding camouflage-patterned item, surrounded by adults dressed in winter and military attire, carpeted floor, artificial lighting, evening or night setting. The headline runs in white letters across the lower third.Save
Tatum's dad spent a year away on deployment.

While he was away, a doll kept his father's place. Now the real one is home to collect that squeeze.