Mom pretends to fall asleep and her husband's reaction melts hearts online

Entrepreneur and social media influencer Julie Barboza recently shared a heartwarming moment featuring her husband, Corey Stefanik, that’s resonated with millions online. On their TikTok account, Julie B & Corey (@julieandcorey), Barboza posted a video of her husband’s sweet reaction when she pretended to fall asleep. With over 4.8 million views, the clip has melted hearts and sparked conversations about shared parenting.

In the video, Barboza sets the scene by asking her daughter, "Tell dada I'm sleeping. Ok?" She then lies down on the couch, pretending to nap while her husband works from home. When Stefanik enters the room, he finds his wife "asleep" and quietly moves to take care of her. He gently caresses her hair, removes her glasses, and covers her with a blanket—all while signaling their toddler to stay quiet to avoid waking her mom.

Thoughtful gestures that say it all

Stefanik's tenderness didn’t stop with the blanket. Concerned that their daughter’s playing might disturb his wife’s rest, he took their toddler outside for a stroll. In a sweet moment, the dad walked alongside his daughter as she pedaled her tricycle down the sidewalk. His gesture not only gave Barboza some alone time but also created a precious father-daughter memory. Stefanik had no idea his wife was faking her nap, making his actions all the more genuine and endearing.

Hundreds of TikTok users couldn’t help but share their love for the devoted dad in the comments. One user, @jonella6, appreciated the small detail, commenting, “As a glasses girly, I love the taking off glasses when I’m too tired to.” Another user, @mamironi2022, compared her own experience, writing, “As a pregnant stay-at-home mom with 2 children under the age of 3... I envy this.”

@californialifeliving praised Stefanik's fatherly instinct: "Daddy to the rescue. That is so adorable he let you sleep in and took her outside to play. That is a real father figure."

The babysitting debate

In another playful video shared on their account, Barboza pranks her husband by asking if he could "babysit" their daughter while she went out for the evening. Stefanik’s reaction once again showcased his deep understanding of fatherhood. “Babysit? Who are you babysitting?” he responded with a laugh. He quickly made it clear that he didn’t consider watching their daughter to be babysitting. "I'll watch our child. What are you talking about? You don't call it babysitting your kid."

Barboza continued her playful teasing, but Stefanik doubled down on his stance: “Spend quality time? Have a daddy-daughter day? Sure.” His genuine laugh at the end of the exchange, realizing his wife was just joking, further cemented his wholesome take on being an active and loving dad.

The TikTok audience adored his reaction. One commenter summed it up perfectly: “That’s the kind of dad every child deserves.”

A reflection on shared parenting

Corey Stefanik’s actions go beyond the viral moments captured in these videos. His refusal to view caring for his child as "babysitting" speaks volumes about the evolving dynamics of parenthood. In a world where traditional gender roles in parenting still persist in some households, Stefanik’s approach offers a refreshing reminder that both parents share responsibility for childcare and household duties.

His story isn’t just a sweet snapshot of a loving father; it’s a reminder of the importance of equality and understanding in parenting. Small acts of kindness—like giving your partner a break or recognizing that parenting is a shared commitment—can go a long way in building stronger families.

Barboza and Stefanik’s videos have sparked conversations, laughter, and admiration across social media, showing that parenting done with love and respect is always worth celebrating.

This article was originally published earlier this year. It has since been updated.