Daughter throws 1976 anime-themed party to fulfil mom's childhood dream and her reaction said it all

A woman who goes by @__jennaayy on TikTok knew that her mommy was absolutely crazy about "Candy Candy", a popular Japanese anime from the 70s. She was so obsessed that she had always wanted a birthday party inspired by the iconic series. So to fulfil her dream, her loving daughter did something so beautiful that it instantly turned her mum into a little girl reliving every bit of her lost childhood.

The daughter planned the biggest surprise for her mommy-dearest by arranging for a "Candy Candy" themed birthday party. She decorated the room with a series-inspired backdrop and posters, and even ordered customized cakes that she said were so pretty that her mum initially refused to cut into them, afraid of ruining the art. Upon several walls hung Candice "Candy" White Ardley's face — Candy Candy's main lead. Finally, after the setup was complete, her mom entered the room wearing a knee-length floral dress, channeling her inner princess. At first, her mother was confused, but the minute she realized her daughter had turned her childhood dream into reality, she could no longer hold back her tears. With her heart racing faster than a Formula 1 car, she went near the decor, only to find herself choking up. "Healing my mom’s inner child with her dream childhood theme party," the daughter shared in the caption.

Birthdays are truly special, especially for parents who celebrate their kids' milestones every year. According to Exceptional Explorers, celebrating birthdays is way more important than most of us believe. The report claims that birthday parties help build a sense of identity and self-worth in kids. Besides, celebrating birthdays can foster social skills and relationships, and teach them gratitude. This perhaps explains why birthdays, no matter what age, bring out the child-like innocence in everyone. Now, the heartwarming story of a woman surprising her mom with her childhood dream birthday party highlights how the lady had to suppress her wish for years, until her daughter decided to bring it to life finally.

Meanwhile, when the lady shared the video online, the post received an overwhelming response on social media, leaving people smiling through tears. Echoing the sentiments, @gheistesgame1987 commented, "What I love about this generation is the fact that we are emotionally intelligent enough to see our parents as people, not just authority figures or mom and dad. We see they were children and sons and daughters before us. I love it." @gloirex shared, "When I was a little kid, I learned how to make friendship bracelets, and I gave my mom one, and she teared up and said, 'Nobody's made me one of these in a long time,' and I think that was the first time I realized my mom was a little girl, too!"

Another user who goes by @nothanxtomhanx said, "It's really hard when you become a parent and realize that your inner child never goes away; you just have to always ignore her. It's amazing that some kids grow up and see their parents for the people they are and were." @teamconrad4lif wrote, "Omg, my mom is a fan of Candy Candy too! You just gave me an idea of what to do for her birthday." Similarly, @claudiasanchez8979 commented, "This made me tear up. My sweet momma is gone, but she would have loved a candy birthday party too." Someone else, @salvi_raised_mami_28 confessed, "I wish I could've been there for my mother's birthday before she died. I was living in a different state and didn't have the money to go see her."

You can follow __jennaayy (@__jennaayy) on TikTok for more lifestyle content.