A Massachusetts toddler who was convinced she wanted to go to the park during a downpour quickly learned her lesson when reality hit, her father told Newsweek.
Her father 30-year-old Jay (@raisingkay_), who did not share his last name, posted a clip on TikTok of his 2-year-old daughter, Kay, who was determined to head outside despite his gentle warnings. Although Jay insisted it was raining, Kay was confident that she still wanted to go to the park.
@raisingkay_
After a few more reminders that, if they go outside, they will get wet, Kay doubles down on her decision.
With a pinkie promise in place that she wouldn’t get upset, both father and daughter opened the door and stepped into the storm.
“Her reaction outside was immediate shock that she actually got wet, and probably a tad regretful,” Jay said. “I expected that, once I opened the door, she would realize what I was trying to explain, but because she was both determined and brave, she still wanted to go all the way outside and run to the car.”
The clip shows Kay squealing and giggling as she retreats indoors, admitting defeat.
Asked if she wanted to go back out again, the little girl answered with an emphatic: “No.”
Jay captioned the clip: “You live and learn. Sometimes you just gotta touch the stove to see if it’s hot.”
The girl’s dad said this was the first time Kay had tested her determination against the elements. “I do my best to let her make her own decisions—within reason—to allow her to get experience with new challenges and decisions,” Jay said. “[I want to] instill confidence in her own decision-making skills.”
The clip has over 1.9 million views and thousands of comments from other parents who could relate to Kay’s unwavering confidence.
“This is so recognizable, I have twin toddler girls,” one mom said.
“This is how you parent—you gotta let them try things,” another added.
A third user wrote: “Her laugh just healed a part of my soul.”
Jay said that his daughter is one of the happiest people. “Every morning, she makes my day brighter. She’s curious, intelligent, independent, goofy, brave, but can also be shy in public,” he added.
As for what happened next? After drying off and laughing about her brief adventure, Kay was once again set on trying to make it to the park—rain or not.
“She realized what just happened and was at the point all set on trying to [go] back … to the park,” Jay said.