People Are Loving This Single Mom's Reaction To A Dads-Only School Event

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

Yevette Vasquez is a proud single mother who lives in Fort Worth, Texas, with her three sons.

Yevette Vasquez

On Sept. 1, Vasquez drove her 12-year-old son Elijah to school as usual, but this time, she noticed there were more cars in the parking lot than on other days.

"I normally drop him off early and sit with him in the car until the bell rings," Vasquez told BuzzFeed. "When I asked him why so many other people were there early that day, he said, 'It’s just Donuts with Dads.'"

Donuts with Dads is a morning get-together for students and their fathers, Vasquez explained, adding that the school also organizes a "Muffins with Moms" event and a meeting for students and their grandparents.

"I could've dressed like your dad," Vasquez jokingly told her son once she found out what was going on. Much to her surprise, Elijah loved the idea.

Yevette Vasquez

"I thought for sure he would be embarrassed or ashamed, but he wanted to go all the way," Vasquez said. "He said, 'That would be a great idea, we still have 10 minutes before it starts. Wanna go home and change?'"

They quickly drove the seven minutes home, where Elijah accessorized his mother with a toy mustache, a baseball hat, and a chain.

Yevette Vasquez

"At that moment when I did it, it was a spur-of-the-moment decision so he wouldn't feel left out," she said. "I didn’t think much about it as we were getting ready, it all happened so fast."

Luckily, nearly everyone at the school loved Vasquez's ensemble. She stayed for about 20 minutes, socializing and taking photos with her son's teacher and other parents and students.

Yevette Vasquez

"We went to the front office first and asked where the donuts were, and we got a great reaction at first," she said. "Kids were throwing themselves on the floor laughing, and most of the dads were very receptive, saying I was a great mom and I was doing an awesome job."

After she got home, Vasquez shared her story on Facebook, where it got more than 6,000 shares and a network of support from around the world.

Facebook: yevette.vasquez

Getting to share the morning was special, Vasquez said, but hearing from single parents from Switzerland to Afghanistan has made it even better. "To hear those stories and know I’ve touched people everywhere for just wanting to help my son, I can’t believe it."

Though not everyone was thrilled about Vasquez's appearance — she hasn't heard from any teachers or administrators, though a student told her son her father didn't approve — she hopes it opens the school's eyes to what children of single parents go through every day.

Yevette Vasquez

"My kids have lived a while without having their father, they’re not sad about it," she said, adding that the dads-only event doesn't bother her, as long as she's allowed to attend future ones — without a costume.

"I’ve seen a lot of parents saying they should take this day away, but that’s fighting fire with fire. Instead of getting rid of Donuts with Dads, they should also make a day for kids missing one or both parents, so they can meet up and bond over it. That’s what I hope comes from this."

In the end, Elijah got a fun morning with his mom, and not one but two donuts. "I gave him mine. I was so nervous and shaking so bad, I couldn't eat it," Vasquez said.

Yevette Vasquez

Though Vasquez hopes she doesn't have to dress up to attend a school event again, her two younger sons have already asked her to do the same for them. "I’ll ask for permission from the school for their Donuts with Dads," she said. "If they allow me to do so, I definitely will so they can have a laugh and feel good about being there and being part of something that they otherwise wouldn't be included in."