Single mom couldn't afford to send her 12-yr-old to summer camp — coworker's wholesome gift made daughter emotional

Saying no to a reasonable demand from a kid can be very hard for a parent. But a single mom had to say no to sending her 12-year-old daughter to camp because she couldn't afford it. The mom and daughter were quite disappointed, but accepted it. But then her co-worker stepped in and decided to make it possible for the girl to attend the camp. When the daughter, Aaliyah, heard that, she was in tears, per a video shared by her mom Alyss, who goes by @peewee.ya.bish on TikTok.

"She wanted to go to this summer camp so badly, but I had to tell her no because I just couldn't afford it as a single mom," the text overlay of the video read. The mom told PEOPLE that her daughter had graciously accepted her answer when she said no initially. She didn't cry or throw a tantrum over anything. But her co-worker, Emily, had listened to the conversation when Aaliyah brought it up. A few days later, Emily approached her, "She goes, 'Does Aaliyah still want to go to that camp?' And then she said, 'My parents really want to pay for her to go.'" The parents quietly paid for the camp and didn't want any publicity from it.

"Watch her reaction when she finds out she's going after all," the mom wrote in the TikTok video. She brought Aaliyah to Starbucks and got a drink and a croissant for her and gave her a gift bag with several things in it. There was a necklace and a journal and Aaliyah appreciated all the gifts when her mom prompted her to look for more. She read a letter and found out that she was going to camp. "You are lying," the girl exclaimed. She squealed and started texting her friend as the news sank in. "Oh my god! So I can go," the girl asked and looked at the letter once again, as if to confirm if it was real. "You leave on Friday," the mom responded.

She looked at the letter for a third time, and her mom questioned, "Are you shocked?" Aaliyah expressed, "Yes, you were like, 'Aaliyah, it's too expensive. I am sorry, you are not going. I really want you to go, but you are not going'." At that point, the mom revealed, "You know what, I didn't pay for it." Alyss told her that Emily's parents had paid for her to go to camp. The girl immediately started crying when she heard that. "Really? I don't even know them. That's so nice." The clip, with over 618,000 likes, touched the hearts of many viewers on TikTok. 

@kearaberisso wrote, "Everyone thanking Emily’s parents — rightfully so — but the little package you got for her and the little date to start it? You’re an amazing mom and I know she’s going to remember this moment forever. You’re doing great, Mama." @e_marie22 commented, "I love how when she found out that Emily’s parents paid for it, she got even more emotional. I hope she has the best time ever!" @yourladyxxo remarked, "What a sweetheart! Emily’s parents must know how grateful she is and how much this baby deserves this precious little gift." The mom shared a video of her daughter going to camp a few days later. "I love you more than anything. Go make the best memories," the text overlay of the video read.

You can follow Alyss (@peewee.ya.bish) on TikTok for more lifestyle content.