4-Year-Old Runs Across the Street by Herself. But It's What Happens Next That Goes Viral (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Lisa Aamot’s kids with their neighbors.Photo:Lisa Aamot |@motherhoodbeforenoon

Lisa Aamot |@motherhoodbeforenoon

Lisa Aamotand 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.

“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.”

Lisa Aamot’s kids and neighbors.Lisa Aamot |@motherhoodbeforenoon

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 toTikTok, 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.

“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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Lisa Aamot’s daughter Sutton with neighbor Evy.Lisa Aamot |@motherhoodbeforenoon

The mom also shares some advice for families looking to build connections with their neighbors, too.

“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!”

source: people.com