Move over, Ms. Rachel: Grandma’s video is stealing the spotlight
There’s a new toddler influencer in town—and it’s Grandma.
When TikTok mom @heavenlys.mom shared a video of her mom’s latest project, the internet lost its collective mind. Why? Because Grandma got tired of competing with Ms. Rachel for her grandbaby’s attention—so she took matters into her own hands.
The now-viral video (5.6 million views and counting) shows a wholesome, hilarious reality: Grandmotherly jealousy is real. Instead of accepting that Ms. Rachel was the reigning queen of baby entertainment, this grandma channeled her inner content creator and made a fully customized video for her granddaughter, Heavenly.
Going full production mode
And when we say customized, we mean full production mode.
“Hi Heavenly, let’s go for an ABC ride!”
Cut to: Grandma’s face edited onto a cartoon school bus, singing a personalized version of the ABCs.
TikTok was obsessed. The comments section was a mix of crying-laughing emojis and heartfelt admiration for a grandmother so in love with her grandchild that she turned into a one-woman studio overnight.
Grandma in love with her grandbaby? Check.
Ms. Rachel-level energy? Check.
Video editing skills that deserve an Oscar? Check.
Related: ‘Boomer grandma’ pokes fun at her own generation with hilarious—and triggering—skits
The science of grandmotherly love
But here’s the thing—this isn’t just adorable. It’s science.
Research suggests that involved grandmothers provide valuable emotional and practical support that benefits both moms and babies. Anthropologists have long studied the Grandmother Hypothesis, which suggests that human evolution favored long-lived grandmothers because they dramatically increased their grandchildren’s survival rates.
More recently, studies suggest that grandmothers often feel a stronger emotional connection to their grandchildren compared to their own adult children. Anthropological research highlights the unique role grandmothers play in family caregiving, and their deep emotional investment may be rooted in both evolutionary and social factors. In other words: Grandma’s instinct to be the main character in her grandbaby’s life runs deep.
Grandma’s role in mom’s well-being
And for moms? Having a hands-on grandmother can provide meaningful support during the postpartum period. Research published in Frontiers in Psychology suggests that supportive grandmothers may help reduce maternal stress and support breastfeeding success.
Furthermore, support from a grandmother has been linked to a lower risk of postpartum depression when the relationship is positive and non-conflictual. However, researchers note that the quality of the grandmother-mother relationship matters—while supportive grandmothers can be a huge help, intergenerational conflict can increase stress rather than alleviate it.
One study even found that moms with active, engaged grandmothers were more likely to go on to have more kids—suggesting that when you have a solid support system, the idea of expanding your family doesn’t feel quite so overwhelming.
In short, having an involved grandmother can shape a mom’s postpartum experience in profound ways—reducing stress, supporting breastfeeding, and even influencing future family planning.
Related: Grandma with ALS shares the sweet way she’ll always be able to read to her grandkids
More than just a viral video—it’s a family legacy
So while this grandma might have just been trying to outshine Ms. Rachel, she was actually doing something way bigger: reinforcing a bond that benefits everyone.
Because this isn’t just about one grandma and her video editing software. (Though we’re obsessed with that, too.) It’s about the way so many grandparents want to be the one their grandkids light up for. Ms. Rachel may have a degree in early childhood education, but Grandma has unmatched dedication and an iPhone camera.
So if you ever catch your mom side-eyeing your toddler’s screen time, just know—it’s only a matter of time before she fires up iMovie and drops Granny’s Greatest Hits on YouTube.
Ms. Rachel, you’ve got competition.
Sources:
Grandparent Involvement and Children’s Health Outcomes. National Library of Medicine. Grandparent Involvement and Children’s Health Outcomes: The Current State of the Literature.
Grandmothers matter. 2024. Frontiers in Psychology. Grandmothers matter: how grandmothers promote maternal perinatal mental health and child development.
