Mom's Smile as 5-Year-Old's Question About Money Puts Things in Perspective

A mother who replied to her young son's question about money has moved social media viewers of the video.

Kimberley Bartlett, 25, lives in England with her 5-year-old son, Kyran, and like many people, she is feeling the pressures of the high cost of living. So when Kyran asked her a simple question about how money works, it put everything into perspective.

In a TikTok clip shared on March 20, which has received close to 300,000 views, Bartlett can be heard telling Kyran: "Everything costs money."

"Not stuff like that's in the house?" Kyran asks off camera.

After Bartlett explains to him that things in the house do in fact cost money and that she paid for them, he says, "I mean like cuddles and stuff?"

Instantly, a smile spread across Bartlett's face as she assures him: "Yeah, cuddles are free, darling."

Bartlett told Newsweek: "I was just pottering around in the kitchen mumbling to myself about things costing so much and just muttered, 'Why does everything cost money?'

"My son overheard me saying that and asked: 'Mammy, does absolutely everything cost money?' and the rest is in the video."

Speaking proudly about him, Bartlett said: "Kyran has always been such a lovely boy. He feels so deeply and is so full of love he often surprises me with the things he says or does.

"Hearing him say that reminded me that although times are hard moneywise, I am very, very lucky for my little family to be full of love," she said. "It reminded me that I am rich in a whole other way and made me feel so warm inside."

She added: "A child's perspective is so innocent and matter-of-fact, it's beautiful."

Rising costs are being felt worldwide. In the United States, a Pew Research poll in January found that more than 90 percent of Americans say they are "very" or "somewhat" concerned about the price of food and consumer goods. And 90 percent said they were concerned about the cost of housing.

After Bartlett uploaded her video, many TikTok users praised her in the comments section for how she's raising her son. One wrote: "I have to say that's one of the loveliest things I've seen in a while."

"The smile as you realize he has a point," another pointed out. Another user said: "That just shows how he's been brought up with love."

"Oh you are raising a good one there mumma," another wrote.

Bartlett told Newsweek: "Reading all of the amazing comments made me feel amazing knowing I have such a sweet little boy that knows exactly what matters, and hearing the praise of raising him right really put a smile on my face."

She added:" As a mother, I often doubt myself a lot—tell me a mother who doesn't—and this just made me feel like I was doing something right."

She continued: "Always remember no matter how hard times get, as long as you're trying your best don't be so tough on yourself. We're all being faced with this cost of living crisis, and each of us are doing what we need to get through it.

"What my son made me realize is children are happy with lots of love, things that come for free...like cuddles."

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