How a Discarded Purse Sparked This Wholesome TikTok Trend
By Movieguide® Contributor
Parents are having their moment on TikTok after a viral video reminded users of the sacrifices moms and dads make for the sake of their children.
The video, which has racked up over 20 million views, highlights an unpurchased purse that was left in the baby aisle of Target. DeNaesha Gonzalez, the woman who filmed the video, then says the mom deserved the purse if she was willing to give it up for the sake of her baby.
@denaeshagonzalez To the Mother who chose themselves last, you deserve the world tonight and always.🤎 #motherhood #motherhoodunplugged #parenting #parentsoftiktok
Gonzalez, a mother herself, related to the unknown woman as she has had to forgo her own wants countless times for the sake of her kids.
“There were just times where I didn’t have or there were times where I had to put down certain things so that my son could have,” Gonzalez told NBC News, explaining why she filmed the video. “And so I think it just was a moment where I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, this is so familiar.’”
Gonzalez’s video has inspired hundreds of people to give back to parents by placing gifts in the baby aisle for them to find.
“On the surface, it’s a pay-it-forward trend similar to paying for someone’s Starbucks drive-through order or leaving a large surprise tip to a service industry worker. But at its core, there’s a deeper message: parents deserve to give themselves some love, too,” Pop Sugar explained.
The people giving back hope these small acts of kindness will encourage parents and help them know they are seen and appreciated.
“I hope that in this [trend] parents, caretakers, moms, dads would feel in a moment that there is a financial burden lifted off of their shoulders,” said TikToker Cecily Bauchmann, who left a $100 gift card under a box of diapers. “And I know that it can’t be all the time, but it could be for that one time.”
“I just hope that this video reminds moms and dads out there that it’s OK to spend that money on yourself,” added Courtney Olson, who also participated in the trend, “and it’s OK to buy yourself things here and there, because your children will not be going without just because you’ve got yourself one thing.”
