When my 5-year-old daughter, Lily, refused to cut her gum-tangled hair, I didn’t think much of it—until she said, “I want my real daddy to recognize me.” My heart stopped. Real daddy? I’m her father… right?I gently asked what she meant. Through tears, Lily admitted, “Grandma said you’re not my real daddy. That if I cut my hair, my real daddy won’t know who I am.”

Sara, my wife, and I were stunned. Her mom, Carol, had planted this horrible idea in our child’s head—all because she didn’t want Lily to have short hair.We confronted Carol. She brushed it off as a “harmless story,” even doubling down with, “With Sara’s past, who’s to say you are her real dad?” That was the final straw.Sara told her to leave and we’ve cut off contact since.That night, we reassured Lily: I am her dad. Always have been. Always will be. No lie will change that.We cut the gum out of her hair—just a little—and she smiled again. “Daddy, can I dye it pink when it grows back?” she asked.Absolutely, sweetheart. Pink it is.