A video of a sweet moment at a South Carolina Target store has gone viral, showing a 2-year-old’s touching answer to an offensive comment made by a cashier. Sophia, who had just learned to use the potty, picked out a black doll that looked like a doctor because that’s what she wants to be when she grows up.
The teller asked Sophia and her mother, Brandi Benner, if the doll was for a friend or if Sophia wanted one that “looked more like her.” Benner tried to stop Sophia, but Sophia boldly said, “Yes, she does.” She then said, “She’s a doctor like I am.” She’s pretty, and so am I. See how pretty her hair is? “And do you see her stethoscope?”
The checker was shocked, and Benner was proud of Sophia for being so strong. This short conversation shows how important it is to love yourself, accept others, and value differences. Benner thinks that kids don’t have views by birth; they learn them.
A lot of people are talking about what happened; Benner’s Facebook post has more than 100,000 shares and 19,000 comments. A lot of people liked Sophia’s confidence and Benner’s parenting.
“She’s my kind of girl; you’re my kind of mommy!!” wrote one person. “My little girl loved her black Cabbage Patch baby,” said someone else. That she is kind and sees more than most people, I’m so proud of her.
What did Benner say in answer to the bad comments? “I just want to teach my kids love, and that’s included in my own actions.” Sophia’s choice and answer serve as a lesson that all kids have the right to see themselves in the things they see.
This experience reminds parents to help their kids learn to accept themselves and care about others. We can teach our children to respect individuality and celebrate differences by promoting diversity and acceptance. “She’s a pretty girl, and I’m a pretty girl,” Sophia said over and over again.
