Woman’s Dad Became ‘Instant Besties’ with 2 Adopted Sons, So He Moved Down the Street from Them

Some grandpas take time to warm up. But Annie Elble Todt says her father didn’t just grow close to her two sons — he became their “instant besties,” forming a bond that felt immediate and unshakable.

“When you are fostering, reunification is always the goal, but that doesn’t make goodbyes any easier,” Todt says, reflecting on the path that eventually led to adoption. She recalls saying goodbye to five children before taking in the boys, and she describes the moment she learned she could adopt them as a mix of heartbreak and relief.

Todt says it was painful to realize no one in the boys’ biological families was able to take them in. Still, she says the joy of knowing they could stay together — and stay safe — outweighed everything else. “Our unspeakable joy of knowing we get to spend the rest of our lives keeping them safe, watching them grow and cheering them on along the way was a relief,” she adds, noting her parents felt that same wave of emotion.

In a viral TikTok, Todt captured just how naturally her dad fit into the boys’ world — and how quickly the connection took hold.

For Todt, it wasn’t something that slowly built. It was there from the start. “It was honestly instant, especially with Kingston,” she says.

That bond became part of Kingston’s identity in a lasting way. “We gave King my dad’s name as his middle name because of their connection,” she explains.

Todt also remembers her father stepping in during the toughest baby moments, especially when Kingston couldn’t be soothed. “When Kingston was a baby and really upset, my dad would wear him in a baby carrier, walk around and chant him a little song,” she says — and Kingston would calm almost immediately.

Looking back, Todt believes her kids sensed something about him before they could ever put it into words. “My dad has a caring and nurturing spirit,” she says.

As the boys grew, that closeness only deepened — and eventually, her father made a decision that reshaped their everyday life. Todt says he moved down the street just to be near them, a choice that still overwhelms her when she thinks about what it represents.

“When I was growing up, my dad was very busy working,” she explains, noting he was the sole breadwinner and a neurologist. She says she understands why he missed some moments when she was young, but believes living nearby now is his way of making sure he doesn’t miss the grandkids’ lives, too.

These days, she says he shows up in all the ways that count: reading books to the boys’ classmates at school, cheering at her daughter’s swim lessons and joining hikes that turn into family memories.

Todt’s sons were placed with her when they were just 3 and 4 months old — and they’ve leaned on each other through every stage. She says she used to fear reunification might separate them because their bond is “more like twins than just siblings.”

Now that they’re officially brothers forever, Todt believes that connection will matter even more as they get older. Because they’re both adopted and of different races, she says they may face complicated feelings about identity and belonging — and she hopes they’ll be able to support each other through it.

One of the biggest surprises for Todt has been watching her father become the playful, present grandparent she didn’t always get to experience as a child. “Seeing him at the park with my boys flying airplanes or asking us to go on a kayak ride to have a water blaster battle has really been good for my soul,” she says.

Todt hopes the boys keep bringing out that joy in him, too. “My prayer too is that the boys and all their wild energy will keep him young,” she adds.

Beyond the viral moment, Todt also hopes her family’s story encourages more people to consider fostering and adoption — especially for kids who are too often overlooked. She notes foster parents can choose which children enter their homes, and she wants people to rethink restrictions that can exclude children before they’re ever truly known.

“Often children of color are passed by, as well as boys,” Todt says, particularly when children have faced difficult circumstances even before birth. But, she adds, “sweet kiddos like mine” are worth it.