The best parenting moments of 2014

1. Parents release new birth announcement for transgender teen

For a teen, telling your parent you’re transitioning can be terrifying. And for parents, it can be confusing, and even sad. But one mom and dad showed their support in a huge way — by putting a new “birth” announcement in their local paper:

“In 1995 we announced the arrival of our sprogget, Elizabeth Anne, as a daughter. He informs us that we were mistaken. Oops! Our bad. We would now like to present, our wonderful son – Kai Bogert. Loving you is the easiest thing in the world. Tidy your room.”

Their example shows how being a parent means loving your child through everything, no matter what.

2. Mom saves son from fire

When 23-year-old mother Christina Simoes and her 18-month-old son were trapped on the third floor of their burning apartment building, she knew the only way out for them was through the window. Simoes took her son in her arms, cradling him, and jumped out the window, landing on her back. Her only instinct was to protect her son, no matter what it meant for her.

“I kissed him and told him I loved him and then I jumped,” she told WCVB-TV. Due to the fall, Simoes is suffering severe nerve damage and may never walk again. After falling, she lost all the feeling in her legs. She is currently in recovery. Her son, however, is completely fine.

3. Amazing “Spider-Dad” gives his terminally ill son the best birthday surprise ever

When Mike Wilson’s son Jayden was diagnosed with brain cancer, doctors only gave him a year to live. It had been a tough year for the whole family, but Wilson didn’t want his son to feel a drop of sadness on his fifth birthday. So, he gave him the best surprise ever: he surprised Jayden as his favorite superhero, Spider-man. Watch the heart-warming video below:

4. Dad goes above and beyond with packing lunch…every day

Packing your child’s school lunch is usually thought of as an annoying chore that’s either done at the end of the day when you’re exhausted or in the morning, during the mad rush of getting your kids out the door. But Beau Coffron consistently makes his daughter Instagram worthy lunches day after day, earning him the moniker “Lunchbox Dad.” Sometimes, it really is about the little things.