This Mom's Video Of Son's Performance Reminds Parents The Importance Of Showing Up

A video of a preschool student performing in class is gaining views on TikTok, reminding parents of the value of participating and showing up in their children's activities.

Sophia Khyla, 24, from Taguig City, uploaded a video of her son Liam during his class' performance of A Million Dreams at school last February 13. She added text to the video that reads, "POV: You experienced "why showing up matters."

In the caption, she wrote, "Liam keeps searching the crowd looking for me, and when he found me, he smiled proudly and made my 4 days postpartum hormones cry."

In an interview with Smart Parenting, the mom of two shared her feelings about her video. As of writing, the video has garnered over 4 million views on TikTok. Watch the video on TikTok here.

Viral: Mom's video of son's performance is making us cry

"Noong una po, na-shock po kami kasi mahilig lang din po talaga akong mag-post ng videos sa TikTok about kay Liam. Akala ko nga po ako lang yung naiiyak sa video kasi kakapanganak ko palang, pero nagulat po ako na marami din po pala ang ganun yung naramdaman sa video," Sophia said.

@sophiakhyla Liam keeps searching the crowd looking for me, and when he found me, he smiled proudly and made my 4 days postpartum hormones cry ???????????? #fyp #boymom @Dot ???? ? original sound  - Sophiakhyla????

During Liam's event, Sophia was just four days postpartum, which she thinks is the reason why she was very emotional at the time.

She added that it warms her heart to read the comments of netizens on her video, "Marami ang nagsasabing na-heal sila nung video ni Liam at na-appreciate nila na pumupunta kami sa mga activities ni Liam na ganun yung gusto sana nilang parents."

"Nakakalungkot lang din po yung ibang comments, may mga nag-share din po kasi ng experience nila growing up. Meron pong nag-share na never nagpunta ang parents nila sa mga events niya sa school graduation, recognition day, or kahit anong events," she added.

"'Yung nararamdaman po niyang well-loved and appreciated siya at na-bu-boost 'yung confidence niya." —Sophia Khyla on the benefits of showing up

Some of the top comments on the video read, "U [sic] know I love how this generation of parents understand and prioritize their children's mental health because in our time, it was never like this."

Another one wrote, "We're becoming the parents we never had."

Some even shared their experiences growing up, "Not me crying so hard [right now] remembering the times when I needed a parent and no one showed up."

Why showing up is important for kids

For Sophia and her partner, they make it a point to always show up at all of Liam's school activities, just as they experienced growing up. 

Sophia shared that Liam was born during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is probably why he was very shy and not fond of being with other people. Nevertheless, they see the changes in Liam's behavior, as he is gaining confidence from always seeing his parents at his school activities. 

"Napapasaya po namin siya sa ganung bagay na makita niya lang kami sa crowd, at nakikita ko pong napa-proud siya sa sarili niya." —Sophia Khyla 

In the video, Liam can be seen looking for his mom in the crowd from the start of their performance. She told Smart Parenting, "Hindi po namin siya pinilit sumali pero nung sasayaw na po hinila siya ng friend niya para sumali sila sa performance kaya po sumama siya. Ang problema lang po since akala ko po ayaw sumali ni Liam, hindi po ko nakasiksik sa harap at nag-iingat din po kasi ako since 4 days palang nakalipas nung manganak po ako noon kaya medyo nahirapan po si Liam na mahanap ako."

Sophia believes that when parents show up in their kids' activities in school, it makes them feel loved and appreciated. "Syempre, napapasaya po namin siya sa ganung bagay na makita niya lang kami sa crowd at nakikita ko pong napa-proud siya sa sarili niya, kasi kada after event po pag nag-uusap-usap na po kami tungkol sa event nila, lagi niyang tinatanong kung nakita ko ba siya or kung okay ba yung ginawa niya."

Message to parents who cannot attend kids' events

The mom of two recognizes that not all parents can fully attend their children's school matters. She emphasizes the showing up benefits not only the kids but also the parents. 

"I know that it is really difficult for working parents to show up to their children activities because of work or other important personal reasons, pero kung iisipin po 'yung magiging benefits nang nandun tayo sa mga anak [natin], yun yung magbibigay ng lakas ng loob sa atin na gawin yung tama, and sila din naman 'yung priority natin kaya tayo nagtatrabaho—para ibigay ang best na para sa kanila."

"Kung hindi man po siguro talaga afford na maging present sa activities ng mga anak [natin], siguro po yung iparamdam nalang po natin na na-appreciate po natin 'yung mga bagay na ginagawa nila," she concluded.

Watch this video of a police dad who always rushes home to be with his daughter to do an important thing.