Parents are paying it forward.
While TikTok trends often get a bad rap, a viral movement is making it fun to be kind — and cash-strapped moms are the beneficiaries.
Denaesha Gonzales, a mother based in Nashville, Tennessee, pioneered the new trend after shopping for baby items earlier this month.
In a 17-second TikTok clip, which has more than 22.6 million views, Gonzales zooms in on a silver bag placed among children’s body wash and medicine in the baby aisle of a store.
While other shoppers may have overlooked the bag, which still had tags on it, Gonzales realized it was probably placed there by a mother who had decided not to buy the item for herself so she could afford the essentials for her child.
“To the mother who chose herself last, you deserve the world tonight and always,” Gonzalez wrote in the viral clip.
Gonzalez told The Washington Post: “I found myself a few times wishing I could get something, but I couldn’t. I went through seasons of scarcity where we could only afford the essentials.”
The mom’s message, “She deserved the bag,” was covered throughout the viral video and has now resonated with many moms online, sparking a donation trend.
Mothers across the country are taking part in the “#shedeservedthepurse” challenge, with hundreds of videos dedicated to the trend already shared on TikTok.
In this challenge, participants anonymously give back to mothers by placing gift cards and cash inside baby products such as diapers, formula and baby wipes in stores and supermarkets.
Cecily Bauchmann, a mother of four, was inspired by Gonzales’ video, calling it a “sweet” way to give back.
She recently filmed herself buying a $100 gift card and writing a note on the back of a receipt that read, “Hey! You deserve that special ‘you’ thing. You are amazing!”
She then put the gift inside a package of Huggies diapers.
“It’s going to make me cry because I remember when I couldn’t buy certain things that I couldn’t afford for myself,” Bauchmann confessed in the clip.
The trend has also prompted many mothers to cry as they reflect on the tumultuous times they have experienced as mothers who put their children first.
Gonzales commented under Bauchmann’s clip: “Oh my heart!! I pray that this not only blesses that mother physically, but speaks to her and tells her how much the Father loves her. You deserve all the flowers Cecili! You are such an inspiration.”
Another mom influencer, Ken Cradic, who goes by @kencradic, revealed how emotional he felt while taking part in the challenge.
“From one mother to another, don’t forget to fill the cup! I hope this inspires another mom!” Crafik wrote on the Internet.
Cradic, who is currently pregnant, slipped a $100 Target gift card inside a Pamper’s box accompanied by a cute handwritten note.
The trend continues to hit home for many moms, who are thankful for the social media community.
“It made me cry Ken, being a mum is really hard. Especially being a single working mom sometimes. I make it work, but I’m proud of you,” wrote an emotional mom.
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Image Source : nypost.com