Toddler Was 'Hesitant' to Meet Mom's New Boyfriend. Then This Small Gesture Made Her Feel 'So Loved and Secure' (Exclusive)

In a heartwarming TikTok, Marissa Bennett documents her husband John taking her 2-year-old daughter Lyla for their weekly “daddy daughter mornings.” The viral clip highlights John’s dedication to bonding with his stepdaughter in order to show her that “she knows how much he loves her and is there for her,” the video reads.

“The daddy daughter mornings weren’t premeditated,” John exclusively tells PEOPLE. “It really just happened organically. I work all day and come home and the first thing I want to do is create a happy life for Marissa and Lyla.”

The tradition began about a year ago when John and Marissa began dating (they're now married). Despite initial hesitations about introducing a new partner to her daughter, Marissa was happily surprised by John and Lyla’s instant connection.

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“At first, she was a little hesitant,” Marissa tells PEOPLE. “But it was maybe an hour later, he was carrying her inside the house, and there was an airplane. They both turned around to look up at the airplane and she was touching his face. That moment made me tear up because I know what an amazing, trustworthy person he was.”

Since then, every Saturday morning, John wakes up early to prepare breakfast for Lyla while Marissa enjoys some extra rest. Then he and Lyla set out to enjoy their special time together, which typically includes a trip to the gym followed by playtime at the park.

While these mornings are in part an effort to provide Marissa with some much-needed alone time, for John, they mean much more. “As much as Lyla is Marissa’s daughter, I share that responsibility,” he says. “For me to be able to provide a safe and happy environment for both Marissa and Lyla is really empowering and confidence-building.”

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As the outings became a tradition, Marissa says she’s grateful for the bond they’ve formed. “It means so much to me because throughout the week, I’m with her 24/7,” she shares. “We don’t have babysitters, so that’s my only time to be alone. Knowing that it’s also strengthening their relationship together, it’s like the most valuable thing in the world.”

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John emphasizes the importance of communicating and understanding each other, especially when it comes to blended families.

“It’s setting your partner for success when you are communicating,” he says. Marissa adds, “A big thing is to have your significant other create bonds with your kids, maybe away from the other spouse ... just so the child knows that this person is here to stay and that they have their back.”

The viral TikTok clip has caught the hearts of many, with an overwhelmingly positive response to their story.

“I think the most special thing about it is that people get a glimpse into what my every single day is like with him as my husband and as the father of my child,” Marissa shares. “Every day, he’s doing things that make me feel so loved, and that make Lyla feel so loved and secure in such a stable home.”

Read the original article on People