4-Year-Old Runs Across the Street by Herself. But It's What Happens Next That Goes Viral (Exclusive)
Recently Aamot was making pancakes but as she was getting everything out, realized she was out of syrup. Her older two kids were reading, so Sutton, her youngest, offered to go across the street to get some from the neighbors
Initially, Aamot was just recording the moment because it was cute to see Sutton hit a new milestone of independence. But she didn't expect to catch Fred coming to the door, since he's usually cozy in his chair
She later posted the video on TikTok, where it went viral
Lisa Aamot and her family first met their neighbors, Fred, 87, and Evy, 79, in March 2020.
The family's middle child, Kinley, walked up to Evy at the mailbox. Evy was holding an ice cream cone and lowered it so Kinley could lick it. "Because of the time we were in, I remember thinking, 'You can't do that, you could get sick!' " Aamot recalls exclusively to PEOPLE. "Now, I look back and laugh. It was such a tense time, and Evy was set on staying positive and being a light instead of living in fear."
From that moment on, the neighbors' friendship blossomed. Fred and Evy learned what Aamot's three kids loved to snack on and kept their pantry stocked for when the kids knocked on their door. Aamot's son, Mason, would talk airplanes and Legos with Fred, while Evy and Kinley would color or bake together.
"Sutton, our youngest, has known them since birth," Aamot adds. "Evy came over and held her when she was just a tiny 5 lbs. When spring came, if I needed to mow the lawn or get something done, I would send a message: 'Want to hold a baby?' While her siblings were at school, Sutton would point and cry to go see Fred and Evy."
"Once she could walk, we had endless Ring camera videos of her trying to escape over to them — she never made it far," the mom adds. "Now, at 4, if you ask her, she will list them at the top when she talks about her best friends."
Related: 75-Year-Old Knocked on His New Neighbors' Door to Share a Joke. Then Something Beautiful Happened (Exclusive)
Recently, when there was no school, Aamot thought it would be fun to make pancakes. But as she was getting everything out, Aamot realized they were out of syrup. Her older two kids were reading and cozy, so Sutton offered to go across the street to get some.
Since she is 4, Aamot said she would walk out and watch her but still let her cross alone, since they live in a very quiet neighborhood. Initially, Aamot was just recoding the moment because it was cute to see Sutton hit a new milestone of independence. But she didn't expect to catch Fred coming to the door, since he's usually cozy in his chair.
"It was such a sweet moment that I teared up, so I knew I had to share it," Aamot says, noting how she later posted it to TikTok, where it went viral, amassing more than 4 million views.
"I think we've gotten so used to being busy and using screens, that we've forgotten the importance of community and connection," she adds.
Reading through the more than 3,500 comments, Aamot says she couldn't help but cry. She loved seeing how her video helped people remember their childhood neighbors' names.
"It was so moving to be reminded of the lasting impact we can have on each other through simple acts of kindness and friendship," she says. "I think the comments that stood out the most were the ones saying that, 20 years later, they still think of that person, or the one where someone said their neighbor gave their kids Dum Dum suckers, and then, at his funeral, his family had placed 3 Dum Dums in his hands to memorialize that friendship. I recommend Kleenex if you dive into the comment section!"
"I hope it reminds people to check on people. To be a good neighbor and slow down," she adds. "I think the older generations are often brushed aside and forgotten, but they have all the stories."
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Related: Couple Moved Into a New Place and Heard Loud Music Next Door. When They Knocked, Something Beautiful Happened (Exclusive)
The mom also shares some advice for families looking to build connections with their neighbors, too.
"Start small," she says. "Get to know them. I think especially older neighbors just want company and to not feel forgotten. Also get outside! Go on walks or grab a drink and sit on your porch and say hi as people walk by. You never know when a hello at a mailbox could turn into something so much more."
"I think they have become like family," she adds. "I lost my dad a year ago and our kids were all very close to him. I think having a grandparent figure so close has helped ease their grief. They respect them, and love them, and know they are safe with them. If I need something, I know I can send my kids over and Evy probably has extra — like the syrup!"
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