Mom finds the sweetest way to send her son to college with a Toy Story-inspired goodbye
Every mother knows that even the smallest rituals carry enormous weight for children—especially when they mark the end of something we cherish. In a recent TikTok by @benio0829, college-bound Ben Szram’s mother, Kathy Szram, gathered his beloved childhood toy collection for one final goodbye before he left.
The scene is simple, nearly silent, and achingly familiar: stuffed friends, miniature keepsakes, and well-worn favorites lined up like little sentinels of memory. It’s no wonder the video has been viewed over 41 million times already.
More than toys: the echoes of childhood memory
Even without a spoken narrative, the visual (like the similar one we see in this Instagram reel from @justcaracarroll) hits hard—especially for any mother who has spent hours on the floor with her baby playing with the same beloved toys again and again.
Research shows that unstructured rituals—even something as simple as arranging toys—help children and parents process change and build emotional resilience. These small acts become anchors when routines shift and roles evolve.
Related: Mom unboxes her 30-year-old Toy Story toys—and her toddler’s joy is straight out of a Pixar movie
Mothers everywhere are feeling big feelings
Scrolling through the comments feels like eavesdropping on collective motherhood:
- @mariapia writes, “This would absolutely destroy me.”
- @Brooke|Teacher|Mum shares, “Your mumma just made over 3.7 million people cry on a random Wednesday
” - Many echo the sentiment that it’s never really goodbye—it’s a new chapter deeply connected to the preciousness of what came before.
Related: To the mama with a heavy heart—it gets better
Why these tiny farewells matter
As the American Psychological Association emphasizes, rituals, no matter how small, bring comfort and continuity during transitions. They help kids and parents alike acknowledge change without erasing what came before. For those of us who’ve packed boxes and wiped tears, these quiet goodbyes are mirrors to heartache and hope.
And yes, while our houses might still teem with clutter—socks under beds, artwork weighing down magnets, toys strewn across carpets—moments like this video remind us how much beauty hides in the ordinary.
How to honor these moments at home
- Create your own ritual—even a mini one: When big goodbyes loom, encourage your child to pick a few objects that need “goodbye hugs.” Let them talk about each one and what it means, and then place them where they’ll greet you when you return.
- Capture the quiet: A snapshot or a short video of that final arrangement will warm hearts years later.
- Invite reflection: At dinner, ask about the memory favorite toys evoke. Turning these beloved objects into family stories helps embed joy in growing up.
In the end, these goodbyes aren’t about toys at all. They reflect our roles shifting, our babies spreading their wings, and us holding both happiness and longing—one tiny ritual at a time.
Related: When your kids are all grown up and summer doesn’t feel the same
source https://www.mother.ly/news/viral-trending/mom-toy-story-goodbye-college/
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