Woman Receives Gift From Mom, Unprepared at What’s She’s Saved for 18 Years

A woman who recently turned 18 went viral on TikTok after revealing the special gift her mom had secretly been working on for nearly two decades.

In the clip, Alexandra (@i.luv.celcius) opens a copy of Dr. Seuss’s classic Oh, the Places You’ll Go!…but this isn’t the normal version. The pages are filled with handwritten notes from every teacher she’s had since kindergarten.

With tears in her eyes, Alexandra flicks through the pages, and it’s clear how much the birthday gift meant to her. Pinned to her profile, the clip captioned “crying so bad,” has racked up almost four and a half million views.

Alexandra’s mom inspired thousands of other TikTok users to do the same for their children when they turn 18.

“I’m doing this for my kids,” read the most-liked comment.

Another user wrote, “I never ever saw something as wholesome and caring and sweet in my entire life. “

A teacher chimed in and shared how a mom asked her to write in a notebook for her daughter’s birthday. “I could read messages from all the teachers before me and it made me cry,” they said.

Turning 18 is a significant birthday, marking the beginning of adulthood, and parents often mark the occasion with sentimental gifts. Some write letters to their children over the years to be given when they come of age, while others collect mementos, such as photos and keepsakes from poignant moments.

Gifts like these are meant to reflect on the years of growth and love that have passed.

“As a teacher who has signed a handful of books like this for kiddos, I hope everyone who receives these knows just how loved you were. My first note was for an almost one year old,” another TikToker commented.

Parents on the platform also shared that they had already had the same idea as Alexandra’s mother. One wrote, “I did this! My son is a senior turning 18 in January.”

Some users shared that their parents are making such a gift now, and other TikTok users were yearning for a similar gift.

“Would’ve loved this, so many teachers impacted my life forever,” one person commented.

Newsweek reached out to @i.luv.celcius on TikTok for comment. We could not verify the details of the case.

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