She kept pointing and whispering ‘my mommy’—the meaning behind this viral moment broke the internet

When Genevieve Traversy posted a throwback video of her daughter’s preschool concert to TikTok, she didn’t expect the internet to cry along with her—but that’s exactly what happened.

In the video, a group of toddlers wearing handmade paper crowns sing along during a school Thanksgiving celebration. But one tiny girl can’t quite focus on the performance. Instead, 2-year-old Amaris Traversy keeps pointing and smiling at someone in the audience, repeatedly mouthing the words, “My mommy.”

"My mommy!"

— @genevievet

The smile on Amaris’ face says it all. TikTok | Genevieve Traversy

The video, filmed in 2019, was posted by Traversy in 2022 with the caption: “A month after adopting my baby girl, she sang at her Thanksgiving concert. Instead of singing, she kept pointing at me saying ‘My Mommy.’”

It’s a heart-melting moment, and for Genevieve, a deeply emotional one.

"I felt like that was the moment she realized I wasn't going anywhere,” she told TODAY. “I'm going to cry just thinking about it."

Amaris had been through more in her first two years than many do in a lifetime. Born into difficult circumstances, she was placed in foster care as a newborn. When she was 18 months old, she arrived at the Traversy home—joining Genevieve, her husband Shawn, and their four biological children.

But that transition wasn’t easy. Amaris arrived frightened, traumatized, and distrustful of others.

“She’d never drank out of a cup before and she had a lot of fears — like she was terrified of taking baths and she didn't like to be touched,” Genevieve shared. “She liked to bite.”

"She liked to bite."

— Genevieve Traversy

Genevieve and Shawn didn’t give up. With endless patience, care, and love, Amaris began to trust. And today, she’s thriving.

"She's a big kid now — she's starting to read,” Genevieve shared. “If you saw her now, you wouldn't know she was the same little girl that came to us." Amaris is also into gymnastics and has a great sense of humor.

It’s no surprise that Genevieve has such compassion for children in the system—she grew up in it herself. She lived in 15 different homes before aging out at 18. At just 16, she became a mother. And against all odds, she pushed through.

She now holds three degrees, including one in psychology, and works as a foster care recruiter and life coach. She’s also writing a self-help book to share her journey and inspire others to believe in transformation.

Her message is clear: no child is too broken to heal.

"No child should be considered a lost cause."

— Genevieve Traversy

The video resonated deeply with TikTok viewers, especially those familiar with the foster care and adoption journey.

One commenter wrote, “Made me cry she's admiring you and happy you're there! I'm going through this process and some days are so difficult, but I got to remember we got.”

Another user added, “She is so happy to have a mom she wants everyone to know,” to which Genevieve responded, “She has been growing and thriving beautifully.”

Amaris' story is not just one of a joyful viral moment—it’s a testament to what love, safety, and commitment can do for a child who needs a home. And Genevieve hopes it inspires others to step into that role.

Want to help kids like Amaris thrive?
Learn more about fostering or adoption in your state at adoptuskids.org. Your love might be the miracle a child is waiting for.