“I miss my baby”—the viral TikTok that has every mom crying in the Target parking lot
Some moments in motherhood hit you right in the gut—unexpected, raw, and a little too real. That’s exactly what happened in Lia Scenna’s now-viral TikTok, which has 2.7 million views and counting.
In the clip, Lia is stopped in a Massachusetts parking lot by a stranger who asks, “Can I peek at your baby?” Lia, holding her 10-week-old daughter, Callie, says yes. The woman looks at the baby and softly says, “Oh, I miss my baby. Mine’s 20 years old.”
Lia shares that this is her second baby and that time feels like it’s flying even faster this time around. The woman nods—then, almost like she’s still caught in the moment, mentions that she’d just had an argument with her 20-year-old that morning.
And just like that, you can feel the weight of it. The way motherhood stretches across decades. The way you blink, and suddenly your newborn is an adult.
Related: I miss you already, my baby—even though you’re right here
TikTok’s comments section = A full-on cry sesh
If you’ve ever had a random mom stop you just to soak in the sight of your baby, you know exactly what this moment felt like. And judging by the comment section, so did everyone else.
@lily: “‘Mine’s 20 years old’—what if I cried for three hours.”
@Libby James: “I miss my baby” was like a punch in the gut
�� ”
@hollie: “The way she was so kind yet kept her distance. That’s precious.”
@Kaitlin Holloway: “The argument comment
�� you just know she called her daughter back with such a different frame of mind after this.”
@Jrichele: “I love when moms don’t get weird about looking at their babies
�� ♥ sincerely a mom of teens
♥ we are all just reminiscing about the good old days.”
Why this moment hits so hard
The moment in the parking lot was more than a sweet viral moment, it was one mom seeing her past in someone else’s present. Or, as one commenter perfectly put it: “So I met my younger self for coffee today…”
Motherhood is wild like that. When you’re in the thick of newborn chaos—the exhaustion, the endless feedings, the diapers—it feels like time is crawling. And then suddenly, it’s over. Studies show that parents feel an intense emotional shift when their kids grow up and become independent. And while that’s how it’s supposed to go, it doesn’t mean it’s easy.
Lia’s video is one of those tiny, everyday moments that just sticks with you. Because one day, you’ll be the mom in the parking lot, seeing your baby in someone else’s arms, and whispering, “I miss my baby.”
Related: On becoming a mom again: I miss my first born more than you realize
