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'Swiftie Dad' goes viral for post about step-daughter

"He's her stepdad, you know. So, for them to have a close bond, it's really special," Sophia's mom, Kristen Scharbach said.

EAST BETHEL, Minnesota — Connecting with teenage girls isn't always easy and it can be a challenge to find common ground for some parents.

Rob Scharbach knew exactly how he could connect with his 13-year-old stepdaughter. 

He had to start learning more about Taylor Swift. 

"I think he's a bigger Swiftie than my mom," 13-year-old Sophia joked. 

Rob went down the Reddit rabbit hole looking up as much Swiftie knowledge as he could from his home in East Bethel. Months later, it led to him posting a thank you to everyone who has shared information with him that helped bridge him closer to his stepdaughter.

His post has gone viral. The Today Show, USA Today, and several other outlets have shared their story.

“The first time, I approached her with, 'Hey did you hear about Matty Healy?' And you know she jumped, and her face lit up," Rob said.

This Swiftie bond has helped their relationship grow in general. 

"It's helped me see her perspective on things teenage girls will go through, and how difficult that can be," Rob said. 

Sophia says they go back and forth sharing Swiftie tidbits, adding that they have similar humor which makes the bond even better.

She's looking forward to going to the concert with her mom on Friday. Sadly, Rob couldn't get a ticket and says he will follow the updates online. 

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