You know that magical moment when the holiday season truly comes to life? That was exactly the case for one mom and her adorable toddler during a Target run that’s now gone viral for all the right reasons.
Victoria Paskar took to TikTok to share the sweetest reaction from her 14-month-old son, Ellis, who couldn’t hold back his excitement upon seeing the lit-up Christmas trees and festive decorations lining the aisles. The video, posted on November 9, has since racked up over 2 million views, and it’s easy to see why.
@vita.paskar This is when things start to get exciting 🥹 when they begin to understand! #fyp #christmas #target #toddler ♬ Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee
In the short clip, Ellis, sitting in a shopping cart, exclaims “Oh, wow! Wow!” over and over again with the kind of pure, unfiltered joy only toddlers can deliver. Victoria captioned the video, “pov: your child’s second Christmas isn’t as a newborn anymore, but as a toddler,” capturing that shift when little ones actually start to understand the magic of the holidays.
And TikTok? It couldn’t get enough. The comments section lit up with people reminiscing about their own reactions to holiday decor—no matter their age. “That’s what I say [too] and I’m 32 lol,” one person shared. Another added, “I’m turning 30 in December, and my reaction is still the same.😭”
Victoria shared with Good Morning America that this was Ellis’s first time seeing Christmas decorations he could actually recognize. “As a newborn, he didn’t quite get it. But this time, his reaction to all those twinkling lights was pure joy,” she explained. And experts say that this is exactly when little ones start to develop a sense of wonder. Around Ellis’s age, toddlers are making sense of their surroundings in new ways, becoming more curious and responsive to things like holiday lights and decorations. It’s no wonder his response was so full of joy—toddlers are hardwired to respond to colorful, glowing displays with awe.
Honestly, it’s a beautiful reminder for parents to slow down and savor these fleeting moments. That shift from infancy to toddlerhood, when babies begin to experience traditions with a sense of wonder, is nothing short of magical.
So as we head into the season, let’s take a cue from Ellis and his mom: keep things simple, notice the little moments, and maybe even let yourself be moved by the sparkle of the season—whether you’re 14 months old or 30. After all, isn’t that the kind of holiday magic we all need right now?
