Woman Asks Internet What Made Childhood Magical, Not Prepared for Answers

In today’s digital age where every moment is recorded, parents may find themselves trying to keep up with the Joneses’. But do children really care about grand gestures? Apparently not.

Emily Wehner, 30, from Indianapolis, Indiana, asked TikTok users “What made your childhood magical?” and she received an overwhelming amount of responses that confirmed… it’s the little things that matter.

She told Newsweek: “I have been crying real tears as I have been reading through every comment.”

On April 8, a follow-up video that included screenshots of some of her favorite comments amassed over 333,000 views.

One said: “Lots of outside time and neighbor friends, closeness with my cousins, and grown-ups who treated me like a whole real person from the start. My mom was also always playing imaginative games with us.”

Another user said: “My husband told me that whenever his family went to leave for a vacation. They would sing ‘The Flintstones’ together at the start of their journey.”

Additional comments on the original video posted on March, 15, highlight many memories such as eating the same meal and desserts on the first day back to school, playing card games, to eating dinner as a family. There is no mention of extravagant presents or expensive activities. These memories share a unifying theme of simplicity.

Wehner, a family photographer, told Newsweek: “What has shocked me the most is that most people remember the little things and the way you made them feel.

“Cookies after the first day of school, a song played before every road trip, running barefoot in the summer, streamers on your door on your birthday, feeling really and truly seen and loved.”

The mom-of-two explained that she has often asked herself if the little things matter.

“After reading all the comments, I think they do matter and that our kids see them and appreciate them. If not now, then years from now when they are looking back,” she told Newsweek.

Wehner has felt inspired by the memories that have made her realize how important traditions are.

A team of researchers from Syracuse University in New York has also concluded that family rituals and routines are critical to overall health and well-being.

The 50-year research review, which was published in the Journal of Family Psychology of the American Psychological Association (APA), emphasizes the benefits of repetition, including how it can strengthen family bonds.

At time of writing, the recent video that highlights the original has racked up 35,000 likes and 640 comments.

One user said: “[Please] compile a list!”

“My wife makes and made my kids(adult now) life magical. She does it all!!” said another user.

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