4 days ago
Viral Video of Dads Meeting Their Newborn Captures Hearts Every Pride Month. Here's Where They Are Now
When Ben and Aaron Ptashinsky-Skinner realized what was happening, they reached out, their hands instinctively finding each other's, and steadied themselves. Through the doorway at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital in Clinton Township, Michigan, a nurse appeared, cradling their newborn daughter, Charlotte.
After years of hoping and waiting, the couple of 18 years were finally dads, having grown their family through adoption.
The powerful moment, captured on July 28, 2017, has gone viral every year since 2021, when the Ptashinsky-Skinners shared it on social media in honor of Pride Month.
In the footage, Ben, 42, breaks down in loud, joyful tears, his emotions raw and overwhelming. Aaron is quieter but no less moved, his gaze fixed on their baby girl; a mix of awe and tenderness softening his features. They lean in together, captivated by Charlotte's tiny presence, before she's placed in Aaron's arms. Neither man can look away.
The Ptashinsky-Skinners were caught off guard when Charlotte entered the room. Her birth mother had been rushed into an emergency C-section and they had been anxiously waiting for an update.
'They took our phones, and we just assumed it was hospital policy,' Ben tells 'We had no idea they were bringing her in, and I think that's why it feels so organic.'
Ben and Aaron debated whether to share the video on social media because, as Ben explains, 'It's a pretty intimate moment.' Ultimately, however, they hope their experience will inspire others to consider adoption and give the younger generation hope that they, too, can have a future filled with love and acceptance.
Charlotte is now 7 years old and just finished second grade in Windmere, Florida.
Ben and Aaron, who are often compared to Cam and Mitchell from 'Modern Family,' say Charlotte is a mix of both of them. Ben describes himself as like Cam — expressive, theatrical and always ready with a story. (Fun fact: Ben, like Cam's character, was also a professional clown years before the sitcom even aired!) Aaron, on the other hand, is more like Mitchell: thoughtful, steady and the grounding presence that balances out Ben's' exuberance.
There's also a little bit of Charlotte's birth mother in the mix.
'She literally became an amalgamation of all three of us, so it's wild,' Ben says. 'It is definitely nature and nurture.'
According to Ben, Charlotte is naturally funny and has 'impeccable' comedic timing.
'But the best part of Charlotte is her heart. She's incredibly caring,' he says. He recalls an instance on a recent cruise. While they were waiting to check into the kids' club, a child behind them was 'crying his eyes out,' scared to be separated from his parents.
'Charlotte looked at him and said, 'Well, why don't you just come with me?'' Ben recalls. 'The boy stopped crying instantly, and they went together into the kids' club. And then I started crying — because, well, I'm emotional. My husband turned to me and said, 'You know? We're doing this right.' There are always these little signs from the universe that we're good parents. And sometimes, you need those reminders.'
Aaron often worries about the toll hateful comments on social media might take on Ben. But Ben reassures him.
'I'm like, 'Babe, I'm not reading them,'' he says. 'I'm making content for the kid in Minnesota who's never a seen a family like ours — who's in the closet and terrified to come out to their parents. I want them to see that they're normal. That they can have a beautiful life.'
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