Life as a single dad is tough, especially since my wife left, claiming she needed to explore the world. My mornings are a rush to get my two little girls, aged 4 and 5, dressed, fed, and off to daycare before I head to work.

But one morning, I found three plates of freshly made pancakes with jam and fruit on the table. I was astonished and wondered if I had prepared breakfast in my sleep. My daughters enjoyed the pancakes, but I couldn’t shake off the mystery as I headed to work.

That day at work was a blur, with my thoughts drifting back to the pancakes. When I returned home, I found another surprise: my neglected lawn was freshly mowed, as if by a professional landscaper. This was too much to dismiss as a coincidence. Someone was helping me, but who and why?

Determined to uncover the truth, I set my alarm for an earlier time the next morning and hid in the kitchen. At 6 a.m., I saw my elderly neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Harris, entering the kitchen. Mrs. Harris placed a plate of pancakes on the table, while Mr. Harris stood watchfully by the door. “I gave you a spare key when I first moved in, didn’t I?” I asked. Mr. Harris replied, “Yes, you did. We noticed you’ve been having a tough time and just wanted to help out a bit.” Mrs. Harris added, “We didn’t want you to feel like you couldn’t handle things, but sometimes, even the strongest need a little help.”

From that day forward, the Harrises became a regular part of our lives. Mrs. Harris helped with the girls and taught me time management tricks, while Mr. Harris took care of the lawn and odd jobs around the house. Their selfless acts of kindness reminded me that it’s okay to accept help. Life as a single dad is still challenging, but now it’s filled with a little more joy and a lot more love, thanks to our unexpected guardian angels.