Father-In-Law: Daniel (70)

Daughter-In-Law: Eskedar (26)

Son: Yafet (29)

Location: Orange, California

Father of the Wife

The lovable, unfiltered, sagacious and headstrong Daniel (Father In-Law) immigrated to the United States from his homeland of Ethiopia fifteen years ago. He was working at an Ethiopian airline during the transition from Communist to Democratic government when he saw an opportunity to come to the United States. Taking his young son, Yafet, (only seven years old at the time) he vowed to make a new life for himself and his family in America. Yafet struggled with cultural assimilation (you mean boys don’t hold hands with their male friends at school?) but eventually, was raised to be a (somewhat) well-adjusted young man. Today, dad still has one foot firmly planted in Africa, with all the cultural traditions, sayings, values that come from his homeland. What Daniel says doesn’t always translate to modern life in Orange County, California.

Yafet met his beautiful wife, Eskedar, during a chance encounter when they were both at a church camp. Yafet was caught off guard when Eskedar greeted him in his native tongue from Ethiopia. Her family also came to the United States from Ethiopia when she was very young and settled in St. Louis, Missouri. The two quickly became smitten with one another. Unfortunately, she had to return home to her family, so they sparked a three year, long-distance relationship that was nurtured by a hand-written, letter correspondence. Eventually, he asked for her hand in marriage and Eskedar quickly said yes and moved to Orange County without knowing a soul, only her soon-to-be husband, and of course, his father! Daniel knew what it meant to leave everything familiar behind so he sympathetically vowed to take care of his daughter in-law as though she was his own daughter. The relationship blossomed, and from there, the pair has become inseparable.

Eskedar and Daniel are extremely close, and unlike most father and daughter in-laws, they see each other at least five days a week, with frequent outings and get togethers in between. Daniel calls Eskedar on a daily basis to check in with her. They go out to get food together; starbucks is part of their daily ritual. They dance and sing and play together. Eskedar plays practical jokes on her father in-law, mostly because his reactions are priceless. They also connect on their shared culture and heritage. They both speak the same language from Ethiopia, they eat the same types of traditional foods (it’s usually Daniel cooking for her) and they have their own traditional dress that they wear on special occasions.

Not only is their relationship hysterical and playful, it’s also grounded and layered. They will often discuss serious life advice; what it means to come to U.S. from a different country, what it means to be a Christian, what it means to be in a happy and successful marriage, what it means to raise children and a family. Eskedar looks up to Daniel for his life advice, asking him what she and her husband should do in their own careers and lives. Daniel dispenses his well-earned wisdom with a dose of humor and love. They have also been known to cry together! Daniel thinks nothing of kissing his daughter in-law on the cheek. Daniel isn’t shy about making his love and admiration for Eskedar public knowledge.

But for as much as these two play and giggle, they will also fight like a real father and daughter. If Eskedar does something that Daniel thinks “embarrasses” the family, he will make it known. If she does something he deems “foolish” as a mother or a wife, he’ll also make that known. When they fight, very honest and “hard words” are thrown around. Usually, it ends with the duo not speaking for several days. Yafet is on the sidelines, trying his best not to get involved in their super-close relationship. He knows that the duo has their own secrets, their own ups and their own downs. It’s tricky for him to choose sides during a disagreement. Although he tries to remain unbiased it’s nearly impossible with two head-strong people.

Yafet owns his own software company and Eskedar is a stay at home mother, making it very easy to rely on her father in law for support. Eskedar could absolutely use the added help as she’s currently pregnant! She’s expecting her second child due March 1st. Eskedar is navigating a second pregnancy with the stress of her husband working full-time, and relying on her father in-law for support. Generally, the support a husband would give is coming from Daniel because Yafet is working all day to provide for the family. Yafet is glad his father is there, but he can’t help but think that he’s missing out on quality time with his wife and child. He’s currently trying to open a business (a pizzeria!) that will allow him to spend more time at home. This is a close-knit family, with an extremely rare, funny, and loveable father and daughter in-law at the core.