A Young Boy’s Heartwarming Imitation of Love
In a world where children are often absorbed in technology and seemingly oblivious to the subtleties of adult relationships, a 10-year-old boy has captured the internet’s attention with his touching gesture of love. Lisa Goebel, 46, recently discovered that her young son had been quietly observing a meaningful tradition between her and her husband – the leaving of love notes for each other – and decided to join in himself. The boy’s handwritten note on the family refrigerator read: “Hey mom, here’s a thank you gift for being the best mom, and good morning, I love you.” This simple act, shared in a TikTok video that quickly went viral, offers a powerful reminder of how children absorb the loving behaviors they witness at home, often in ways parents don’t immediately realize.
The tradition of note-leaving has deep roots in the Goebel household. As a mother to three older boys, Lisa had always tucked special notes into their lunch boxes. When she remarried, she naturally extended this practice to include love notes for her husband, who treasured each one. Over time, these “random spouts of love” became seamlessly woven into the fabric of their family life, appearing not just on paper but sometimes playfully written with melted chocolate or arranged with candy. What the couple didn’t fully appreciate until the viral video moment was how closely their children were observing these small but consistent demonstrations of affection. “We never thought much of it…until it clicked with this TikTok video,” Goebel explained, revealing the unexpected impact of their unconscious modeling.
What particularly touched Lisa was discovering another note from her son that specifically wished her relief from her back pain – a condition she had been struggling with for months. “It made me smile and laugh because he mentioned my back,” she shared with Newsweek. “Him noticing and wanting me to have a ‘great’ day and not just a ‘good’ day melted my heart.” This level of empathy and attentiveness from a child so young speaks volumes about the environment in which he’s being raised. The moment crystallized for Lisa the profound connection between the affection she and her husband display and her children’s emotional development. Her response was instinctual and heartfelt: “All I could do was hug him and tell him how much I love his heart.”
For the Goebels, these notes represent far more than sweet gestures – they serve as tangible confirmation that their parenting approach is working as intended. Lisa noted that all four of her sons have participated in the note-leaving tradition over the years, especially during times when she’s been unwell, demonstrating a level of compassion that fills her with pride. “My heart is full,” she reflected. “With each note left from any of my boys…it lets me know that we did something right.” This sentiment captures what many parents strive for – evidence that the values they hope to instill are indeed taking root in their children’s hearts and becoming part of their natural behavior patterns rather than merely lessons preached but not practiced.
Perhaps most meaningful to Lisa is knowing that her children have had the opportunity to witness a healthy, loving marriage firsthand. In an age where many children grow up with limited examples of stable relationships, she values that her sons have “experienced what a loving marriage should look like.” She credits her husband with being an exemplary role model, showing her boys through daily actions what genuine love entails – not just romantic gestures, but consistent kindness, attentiveness, and support through life’s challenges. This living example provides her children with an emotional blueprint they can carry into their own future relationships, potentially breaking negative cycles and fostering healthier connections.
Lisa’s refreshing honesty acknowledges that their family journey hasn’t been without difficulties. “Nothing is perfect,” she admitted. “We are a very real couple who have had its share of life’s ups and downs.” Yet it’s precisely this authenticity that makes their story so resonant with others. The beauty lies not in projecting an image of perfection, but in demonstrating how a couple can navigate life’s inevitable challenges while maintaining their commitment to kindness and love. “It’s how we navigated it all to end up here—that is the beauty of what our boys get to witness,” Lisa explained. Her son’s spontaneous note serves as a touching reminder that children are always watching and learning, not just from what we tell them, but from how we treat one another in the quiet, ordinary moments that ultimately shape a family’s emotional landscape.
