Mother and family lifestyle content creator Destiny Arsenault got her children Advent calendars. So her 10-year-old son Ezra thought it would only be fair if she had one too.
The boy found an old pizza box lying around in their home and got to work. By the time December rolled around, he had transformed it into a precious gift for mom, full of tasty treats and loving messages.
Destiny was so moved by her son's effort that she invited her social media followers to open the calendar with her, reminding everyone the holiday season is about much more than material possessions.
This mother got Advent calendars for her kids, so one of them thought that she should have one as well
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Mom: You guys, my son made me an advent calendar. I'm so excited to see what's in there. Thank you, Ezra!
Son: You're welcome.
Son: You're welcome.
Image credits: love_makes_family_grow
Mom: So these are all the days. Alright. I'm going in for number one. Wait, are we supposed to count backwards?
Son: No, we count forward, and then you have a ticket that says something. I actually put in a coupon kind of thing saying 'I love your lasagna, it's the best.'
Mom: I love it!
Son: No, we count forward, and then you have a ticket that says something. I actually put in a coupon kind of thing saying 'I love your lasagna, it's the best.'
Mom: I love it!
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Son: And then you also got an Aero bar. This is the only one I had left in my Halloween basket.
Mom: I love it, thank you so much! This is amazing, Ezra! The detail, I love this! And you used an old pizza box?
Mom: I love it, thank you so much! This is amazing, Ezra! The detail, I love this! And you used an old pizza box?
Image credits: love_makes_family_grow
Son: Yeah, it was thin, so it was kind of hard to work with. I wanted one of the thicker and bigger boxes, but I used what I had.
Mom: Oh my goodness, I love it so much. I'm so excited. Why did you make me an advent calendar, Ezra?
Mom: Oh my goodness, I love it so much. I'm so excited. Why did you make me an advent calendar, Ezra?
Image credits: love_makes_family_grow
Son: I thought that since you got us advent calendars, you couldn't go without one. Even though you said, 'No, I don't need an advent calendar' multiple times. I still chipped in and made you one.
Mom: That's so sweet. I'm loving it. I'm loving it. I love it. I love it so much.
Mom: That's so sweet. I'm loving it. I'm loving it. I love it. I love it so much.
Image credits: love_makes_family_grow
Destiny's video has since gone viral
We managed to get in touch with Destiny, and she was kind enough to tell us more about Ezra and the calendar he made.
"My son's personality is unique to him. He's definitely one in a million. He is so loving and caring towards others. I want to harness that goodness and help him share his love with the world," the mom introduced her boy to Bored Panda. "I truly hope he never grows out of it. He has such a kind and loving heart; he is always wanting to help everyone fit in, and he's willing to help anyone he can. He's always thinking of everyone around him. He's also friends with everyone, young and old."
Destiny said her little guy's surprise has contributed immensely to the joy of the holiday season.
"This period can be stressful for some, and the calendar not only blessed me with my son's kindness, but it also sent thousands of comments praising my parenting as well. I truly feel like I won the lottery. The spirit of Christmas is about spreading kindness in our home, and I feel like the world has sent me so much kindness this holiday season; I'm set for a lifetime."
"I know that my son is going to make the world a better place. He's already doing it in our home and now, the internet"
The mom's original video has been viewed 3.8 million times, and of the 6,400 comments it has received, many were left by people who were absolutely floored by Ezra's thoughtful present.
"The internet community has been amazing. I have been in tears reading the comments and private messages," Destiny shared. "My love language is words of affirmation, and reading these comments has been incredible. So many people saying that our video has restored their faith in humanity, and seeing a child and mother have such a great relationship has been wonderful for them. I will cherish these comments forever. We try to read every one."
Destiny has also been sharing subsequent videos throughout December, revealing what Ezra had prepared for each day.
"I'm a homeschool mom, and I love getting crafty with the kids, but my son always takes the extra step and makes things even better than I could ever dream up," the grateful mom added. "He once made a LEGO vending machine that would spit out Starbursts."
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You could say that her family is staying true to the original Advent calendar tradition
"Advent," which derives from the Latin word "adventus," means "coming, approach, or arrival."
It's the liturgical season that immediately precedes Christmas.
Advent can last from 22 to 28 days, depending on which day of the week Christmas falls on that year.
It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve.
Advent calendars, such as the one Ezra made his mom, seem to have emerged from Lutheran communities in Germany around the 19th century, where parents and children used chalk marks to track the days until Christmas.
While Advent calendars began as a religious custom, in modern times, they have taken on a more secularized and commercial bent, with everyone and everything from grocery stores to luxury brands choosing to produce their own specific versions.
However, Ezra's DIY spin on the concept is a perfect reminder of why it came about in the first place.
People have been incredibly moved by Ezra's DIY project and the work that he put into it
