Retired couple surprises children with Easter bunny baskets and gets a wholesome surprise in return

A small act of kindness goes a long way. Similarly, a single kindness of adults can shield a child from turning into a damaged adult. This retired couple in their 70s, residing in a Houston neighborhood, is proof of this. The couple's kindness towards children around Easter has delighted the internet. One of the mothers of the children, Lidia Barcenas Rodriguez (@lilybakesstudio), noticed this kind gesture and shared it on TikTok. Mario De Los Santos, 77, and Diana De Los Santos, 73, brought smiles to the faces of children returning from school as they stood at their bus stop with handmade Easter baskets. They handed over the baskets to each child getting off the bus. Rodriguez, the mother of two of the children, caught the heartfelt act and started recording the moment.

In the video, the couple was waiting for the kids to come out of the bus. As soon as the kids got out, the elderly couple handed them the Easter baskets. The video's overlay text read, "Our neighbors are retired, and today, I captured the moment when they came and had Easter baskets for kids getting off the bus." “At first, I wasn’t sure why they were standing outside. I thought maybe they were getting ready to leave… When I noticed what they were doing, that prompted me to start recording because I love capturing moments,” Rodriguez confessed, per PEOPLE. 

“Each child received a large bunny-shaped ‘egg’ that opened up and was filled with candy and stickers. They rushed home and immediately opened the baskets and ate most of the candy,’” the mom further added. Rodriguez posted another video, where she unboxed “super cute” Easter bunny-shaped baskets. It had packs of candies and an Easter egg. Each of them also carried colorful bunny and egg stickers.

“That day, we just waved thank you and went home. But something in my mind said I need to return the gesture. So, I headed to Target and put together two baskets for them," Rodriguez said. In her third video, she walked towards the Easter section in the supermarket and picked two white bunny-shaped baskets, two mugs with heartfelt comments written on them, some candies, an Easter card, and filling paper for the baskets. After returning home, she put all the items in the baskets beautifully.

In her next video, she and her kids executed the adorable surprise. "We had the kids sign an Easter card thanking them and delivered them the next day when they got off the bus," the mom said. Diana greeted them and glowed with joy when the children gifted her one of the baskets. Her husband, Mario, who followed her through the door, reacted joyfully on receiving his basket. The couple invited them inside. Rodriguez said, “They invited us over, and we spent several hours just talking and getting to know them. We've now become friends and exchanged phone numbers. It sets an example to follow. I was raised by parents who taught us to be kind. But to have someone be kind to us tells me we still live in a world where kindness still exists."

Seeing the act of kindness, @uncookedfrogbroth commented, “Our old neighbor, Bob, used to bring us ice cream and snacks and say he ‘bought too much at the store.’ My whole life, I thought he really was giving us extras. The whole time, he had us in mind. Miss you, Bob.” @tavinsvieja expressed, “These babies will remember this for the rest of their lives for sure!!” @lilmrsmedina added, “Why am I crying! Oh my God, the kids are smiling and running.”

You can follow Lidia Barcenas Rodriguez (@lilybakesstudio) on TikTok for more lifestyle and baking content.