Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Add Upworthy to your Google News feed.
Google News Button

The bond between an aunt and her nephew can be incredibly special, filled with laughter, love, and unforgettable moments. One woman recently discovered just how deeply she was appreciated when she attended an art competition—only to be left in tears after seeing her nephew’s entry.

A video posted on Reddit by u/Shark-Farts captures the touching moment. The aunt, casually strolling through the gallery with her nephews, stops in front of a painting and jokingly remarks, "That looks like me!" But when she reads the description next to it, she realizes it’s not just a resemblance—it’s a portrait of her, painted by her nephew, Lenny.


Image Source: Reddit | u/shark-farts

A heartfelt tribute in paint and words

One of the boys confirms the artist’s identity, pointing at Lenny, who stands quietly as his aunt takes it all in. Overwhelmed by the sweet gesture, she immediately wraps him in a warm embrace. As if the moment couldn’t get any sweeter, a family member informs her that Lenny’s painting has been selected as a finalist in the competition.

Lenny then directs her to the description he wrote about his artwork. As she reads it aloud, her emotions get the best of her:

"Auntie Steph is a very favorite person because she always makes my day brighter. She makes everything fun. Auntie Steph grows her own sunflowers and gives them to people to make them happy. She's a beautiful person inside and out."
— Lenny, describing his aunt

She hugs him again, her voice cracking with emotion, and proudly says, "Oh my gosh, he's doing amazing." The video ends with her standing in front of the painting, clearly moved, as she says, "It's incredible."


Image Source: Reddit | u/shark-farts

Internet showers love on the sweet moment

Since being posted, the video has received over 82,200 upvotes, with Reddit users sharing their admiration for both Lenny’s artistic talent and his thoughtful tribute.

u/l0vableDarkness commented, "Omg that's amazing. I hope this young man's talent is nurtured, he has a really good ability there."

Others were struck by Lenny’s kindness, with u/hagrid007 observing, "I love the way that Lenny stood back, not pushing himself for Auntie to look. Then he was so shy when she first turned around. Adorable."

"The best part of this is I'm willing to bet she had no idea he noticed those, what she thought were, small things. This made my heart happy."
— @MrsHppy

Another commenter, u/ccottonball, found the moment especially meaningful, writing, "I love this so much. Just a little bit of light in a dark world. Aunt Steph is obviously a big part of that kid's life! We all should be so lucky."

Meanwhile, u/easycure pointed out just how special Lenny is: "That kid is both incredibly thoughtful and incredibly talented. With family as loving as that, I hope he has a bright future ahead!"

The special connection between kids and their aunts

This isn’t the only time an aunt and nephew have shared an unforgettable moment. In another viral story, a toddler was left utterly confused upon meeting their mother’s identical twin for the first time.

from gifs

The child stared in disbelief, struggling to process the fact that there were suddenly two versions of their mom. This reaction isn’t uncommon—experts say babies are still developing their ability to recognize and differentiate faces, so seeing identical twins can be overwhelming.

u/bonkersx4 shared a similar experience: "I have identical twin daughters (16) and they love to confuse people. They were at Target the other day looking at books and they were in different aisles. Some guy walked past the first twin then went past the second twin and he stopped and backed up. He was so confused for a minute."

Another user, u/Budget_Report_2382, hilariously described the toddler’s struggle: "When you swear your object permanence was kicking in, and your aunt decides to throw you a curveball."


media3.giphy.com

A moment to cherish forever

Lenny’s painting was more than just an art competition entry—it was a heartfelt tribute to someone who means the world to him. His ability to capture not just his aunt’s image but also her kindness and the way she makes others feel is what made it so powerful.

For Auntie Steph, it was a moment she will likely treasure for a lifetime.

More For You

CEO sends job seeker an email by mistake—her bold response goes viral
Representative photo by Canva

CEO sends job seeker an email by mistake—her bold response goes viral

Mistakenly receiving emails isn’t unusual, but getting one directly from a CEO about your job application is another story altogether. Shannon Brooke (@shanbrooke_ on TikTok), a 27-year-old job seeker from Scotland, recently faced exactly that scenario. Brooke, who currently works at a coffee shop, shared her unusual experience on TikTok (since removed), drawing widespread attention and appreciation for her witty response.


Keep ReadingShow less
Kathleen Thorson, her husband, and four children in the hospital.

Having ushered four lives into the world, Kathleen then made a choice that would save 12 more.

GoFundMe

After welcoming her newborn, this mom's final act of love saved 12 lives

Kathleen Thorson had a beautiful life—a loving husband, Jesse, and four cherished children, including their newborn son, Teddy. But just days after welcoming her baby, Kathleen suffered a devastating brain hemorrhage. Despite every medical effort, she would not recover. Instead of focusing on her own tragedy, Kathleen chose to leave behind a powerful legacy: donating 12 of her organs to those in desperate need.

Kathleen’s extraordinary act of generosity was nearly unheard of. Organ donations of this magnitude are incredibly rare, making her final gift even more remarkable. A GoFundMe campaign was launched to support Jesse and their children—Danny, Grace, James, and Teddy—helping them navigate life without her.

Keep ReadingShow less
A man handing over a tip.

Representative Image: Tipping used to more commonly known as a gratuity because that's what it meant.

Customer fights back after restaurant refuses to serve free tap water

Some restaurants have adopted automated payment systems that include mandatory gratuities, sparking debates about tipping culture. While many argue that tipping provides essential income for service workers, others believe restaurants should pay fair wages instead. A Reddit user, u/ilikesnark, recently shared a frustrating dining experience that reignited the discussion—this time over a restaurant's refusal to serve tap water.

In their post, titled "Waitress refused to give me water so I removed the 15% auto gratuity," the Redditor described the awkward situation. They had gone out to eat alone and noticed the restaurant’s policy of automatically adding a 15% tip to every bill. While ordering, they requested a glass of tap water, but the waitress instead brought a bottle of water. When the customer asked again for tap water, the waitress insisted they didn’t have any.

Keep ReadingShow less
brielle, the greatest showman, talent show audition

Brielle sings "A Million Dreams" from 'The Greatest Showman' for talent show audition.

briestrongerthancancer/Instagram

Girl with cancer sings emotional 'Greatest Showman' song for talent show audition

Second grader Brielle Bird, 9, has the voice of a songbird. Brielle is currently battling cancer, stage 4 neuroblastoma, for the second time following a relapse in January 2024. And despite her physical challenges, she did not let it stop her from auditioning for her school's talent show.

In an emotional video shared on Instagram, Brielle sang "A Million Dreams" from The Greatest Showman, just a few days after receiving bad new from her doctors. "When you’re tired, I’ll keep fighting for you!" Brielle's mom Kendra wrote in the video's caption.

Keep ReadingShow less
Many hands stacked atop each other.

Representative Image: Most companies can endure the loss of an employee, but 10?

10 employees asked for a fair raise, when HR refused they had the perfect response

When employees give their best to a company, they expect fair compensation and respect in return. But when a group of ten workers was denied a raise and the basic amenities they needed, they decided to take a stand. Their story, shared by u/UnoriginallyGeneric on Reddit, highlights the power of collective action—and how standing up for your worth can lead to something better.

"Unlike many industries, we never shuttered during COVID."

— @UnoriginallyGeneric

During the pandemic, while many industries shut down, this workplace remained operational. The employee explained how they and their team worked tirelessly to keep things running smoothly, ensuring that no one caught COVID by being diligent with safety protocols.

Keep ReadingShow less