A mom on TikTok went viral after sharing the way her 8-year-old daughter detailed a plan to petition for her horse, Salsa, to become her school's pet. While this in and of itself seems like the viral content we all want to see, it was the surprise ending that left viewers heartbroken.
TikToker @afmuscato started her video by sharing what felt like was going to be an uplifting and humorous story about her daughter's ambition and perseverance.
She shared that her daughter Ellie Jo, who is in the second grade, rushed to the car one day after school to unload a whopper of a proposition.
"My teacher said that if you say yes and my principal says yes, then Salsa can be our class pet."
Yes, Salsa...the "1000 pound American quarter horse."
So when her daughter asked if it was okay, the TikToker had no problem saying "yes" because she knew the principal would likely nix the idea, anyway.
But when Ellie Jo began brainstorming ways to make her plan succeed, like getting all the other students in the school to ask the principal as well, mom stepped in.
"I'm willing to pass the buck on this one to the principal, but I really like her principal."
"So in an attempt to help her out, I was like, 'You know, kiddo, when a lot of people want something, you don't typically all have them individually go to someone. You write like one letter and have them all sign it.'"
Ellie Jo immediately began drafting a letter and created a plan so that students in other grade levels could spread the word and gather signatures, as well.
The TikToker then pointed out to her daughter that aside from just signatures, she needed a plan for the horse, too, which as you can imagine, Ellie Jo had no problem producing.
The creator continued that it was an all-evening affair.
"By the time bedtime rolls around, this is a full-blown plan, and I'm like forcing the kid to go to bed."
"And part of me is incredibly proud at the natural community organization that's happening here, though I feel like that might backfire at some point for me as a parent."
She also added she was "mildly concerned" that the plan might actually work.
But the next morning, things took a turn.
"But then this morning, she gets up and walks out of her room and says, 'Mom, I've been thinking about it, and I don't think it's a good idea to bring Salsa to school as a class or school pet.'"
When the TikToker asked why, Ellie Jo responded with the most heartbreaking reason.
"Well, I was thinking about it, and you can't hide a horse in a closet."
"So I'll have no way to keep her safe in an active shooter situation, and I don't want her to die. So I think she probably needs to just stay at home."
You can watch below.
Viewers of the video, which has been seen more than 6 million times on TikTok alone and shared on other platforms, ached over the sad reality that school children in America face.
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And many shared how the shocking turn at the end of the TikTok brought them to tears.
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It's a sad day when you realize an 8-year-old does more to protect her horse than an entire government does to protect our children.
@LeeMerrittesq/X
@bob_moss/X
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@sadcommunistdog; @froglok/Bluesky