As I can attest, deadlines can sometimes be extremely difficult and stress-inducing. But for elementary school students, deadlines can be even tougher, as 7-year-old Leo Palacios' experience shows.
The TikTok video went viral, and Leo's mother Gabriella (@gabbsgarden) humorously captioned the situation, explaining, “My brother showed up in my room to deliver some stressful ASMR.” In the video, Leo quietly approaches Gabriella, who was dozing off in bed next to her daughter late at night, and she admits that she forgot to complete her research project on Komodo dragons. It was scheduled for the next morning, but Gabriella remained surprisingly calm despite the 11th-hour revelation.
“I forgot, I'm sorry,” Leo whispers to her seriously.
While most mothers would probably be surprised, Palacios was quite the opposite and set a great example of gentle parenting.
“It's okay, baby,” she reassured him gently.
Trying to make the most of the situation, Leo humorously suggests, “You can take a break, you can do it now,” clearly needing guidance and help.
In a subsequent TikTok comment, Palacios, a single mother, said she rushed to a nearby Family Dollar store with all four of her children in tow before it closed to pick up materials for the diorama. The video shows them completing it in about an hour, with the caption “Core Memory.”
Many people praised Palacios online for taking a calmer approach to the situation instead of screaming and getting upset, as most people experience in these types of situations.
“The words 'It's okay, baby' captivated me. That child will come to you for anything. My inner child is grateful to you,” one commenter on TikTok wrote. is writing.
“Thankfully he doesn't have parents like us,” one user said, while another sympathized. Children's little brains are working hard, so how can we be angry at them for trying so hard? ”
Should children be discouraged from learning?
Other commenters were less supportive of Gabby's choice. One TikTok user questioned, “Why not let him fail?”
“It is developmentally appropriate for this little boy to forget. If his mother had a strong reaction, it may have instilled in him anxiety or fear of expressing when he makes a mistake. “Yes,” says Dr. Liz Nissim Mathis, a licensed clinical psychologist and school psychologist with Psychoeducational Consulting New Jersey. Jersey.
Dr. Nissim Mathis also emphasizes that parents don't have to immediately react and start helping. She suggests that the appropriate response might have been for her to submit the project one day late. “It makes sense and will help him remember to complete assignments and projects in the future,” she says.
In a follow-up TikTok Q&A, Palacios explained that he completed much of the diorama himself, with Leo doing the research and design while helping him use a hot glue gun. Yet another video shows Leo perfectly reciting all the facts he learned for the presentation. Leo originally expressed his concern that his mother would be angry at his forgetfulness and promised to never wait until the last minute again to finish his homework.
“Are you serious?” Palacios asked him.
“I think so!” Leo said, trying to convince himself, even though they both knew full well that the mistake could happen again.
Alison Resnick, attorney, LMHC, ACS, founder of Tree of Life Counseling Center in New Jersey, says Leo's mistake and his mother's calm response also demonstrate effective communication. “Her reactions bring trust and security to the relationship,” she says.
Ms. Resnick observed that Palacios handled the situation with patience and kindness, reinforcing the idea that she could always turn to her for guidance and support without fear of judgment or severe punishment.
“It teaches my son valuable lessons about empathy, communication, and trust, and lays the foundation for a strong, healthy relationship built on mutual respect and understanding,” she explains.
we've all been there
Palacios' video resonated with viewers because many of us have been in this situation.
My mother never allowed my sister to participate in a heritage project in elementary school where she was assigned to bring food representing her family's country. My mother was told about this project after she came home from a 12-hour day and stayed up until 2 a.m. to make German chocolate torte. My sister later admitted that she didn't even taste it when she presented it at school. (She chose someone else's random brownie instead.)
That incident was brought to mind when my 9-year-old son informed me about a mission to do a similar stunt with me and build his own miniature Thanksgiving parade balloon float. He waited until the last moment for it. And luckily, I had the materials needed to make a Pokemon-themed concoction, so I ended up doing most of the work. Unlike Palacios, I was clearly not as calm, calm, and collected. However, it led to discussions about deadlines and responsibilities, which are still a work in progress.
There is a common theme between Palacios, my mother, myself, and every parent who has gone through this. That said, ultimately we don't want to see our children fail.
Where we fail as parents is to become overwhelmed by the stress and anxiety caused by these self-imposed tasks. This can lead to unintended frustration, which can be inadvertently passed on to your children. It becomes a cycle of shame for the same mistakes we, as parents, have undoubtedly made in the past.
Palacios definitely excelled in this parental assignment, earning him a well-deserved A+.
