Mom's Inspiring Reason for 'Pretending I'm a Granny' Goes Viral

After reflecting on her childhood and thinking about what she would do differently, a mom has shared her advice for making children feel more secure in opening up, including asking them for feedback.

Whenever Erin Persia is feeling unsure, she reminds herself how impactful each moment can be on her children's lives and makes an effort to make them feel valued. It might be as simple as reading them a story before bed or asking how they're feeling, but she says it's the tiny details that have a lifelong impact.

Persia, who is now in Arizona as the family travels the country in their camper van, told Newsweek that adults often "get so caught up in the day" and forget to consider how their kids might be feeling. It can be all too easy to fall into the "victim mindset." She even admits to "pretending I'm a granny" at times, but she encourages people to put aside the negativity and create more special moments with their children.

There's no doubt that parenting is tough. A Pew Research Center poll revealed last January that 62 percent of parents say it's harder than they ever imagined it would be.

While Persia regularly documents her family life on Instagram (@our.new.normal), the video she posted on December 5 explaining the new perspective she's gained has generated far more attention than she expected. The clip, showing her jumping up and down playfully with her boys, has been viewed more than 3.6 million times and received over 80,200 likes.

Layered over the video, the caption reads: "I realized that a regular day of my adult life was their childhood, so I started making shifts to make it feel more special for us."

She told Newsweek: "This has been something I've been trying to mold for our family for quite some time. It has made the kids feel more comfortable talking not only to us but to other adults, which is an important skill. It's also opened up space for me to be able to share how I'm feeling, as it's important to be able to communicate that to my kids so they know Mom's having a hard day but it's not their fault."

Persia said that as a child she didn't feel listened to and struggled to convey her feelings as a child. Now, she makes a conscious effort to ensure her children never feel the same way. According to the Pew Research Center, 44 percent of parents say they will raise their kids differently, compared with their own experience as children.

Among the tips Persia gives based on her changed perspective, she encourages parents to slow down and take in the little moments with their kids, make every day special with them and genuinely listen to how they're feeling. She even welcomes their feedback to learn how she can make their daily lives better.

"I ask my kids how they feel and if I could improve on anything in our day to day. I ask them if they're scared, worried or excited," she said. "And at first it was hard to listen because the adult brain is just filled with so much, but I started to slow down and really listen to them when they spoke."

What the Commenters Say

This mindset certainly changed her outlook on parenting, and now Persia is grateful that she can help others.

Since posting the video and seeing it go viral, she has connected with many fellow parents who marveled at her advice, and some admitted that they "wished they learned this perspective sooner."

She said it's "been nothing but outpouring love and agreements" from parents far and wide, which has left her "blown away." So far, the post has already received over 400 comments, with many people praising Persia's advice.

One comment reads: "I've been doing this after seeing this video a couple days ago. My almost 2-year-old can already feel the difference and I can too through him. Thank you."

Another person responded: "Mamas have their power to make life special for their little ones – love this mind shift."

And another Instagram user wrote: "I love this Erin! Thanks for sharing and reminding us. It's the first time living for all of us."

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