NEED TO KNOW
- On May 4, Elizabeth Russo asked her 6-year-old daughter, Paisley, to stop what she was doing and come sit down for dinner
- But Paisley didn’t want to stop. So, Elizabeth calmly told her that if she wasn’t ready to eat, she could take some quiet time in her room until she was
- Without saying a word, Paisley walked away. A few minutes later, she reappeared — with her bags packed
One mom is opening up about a recent parenting moment that taught her something important.
It happened on May 4, when Elizabeth Russo asked her 6-year-old daughter, Paisley, to stop what she was doing and come sit down for dinner. But Paisley didn’t want to stop. So Elizabeth calmly told her that if she wasn’t ready to eat, she could take some quiet time in her room until she was. Without saying a word, Paisley walked away.
A few minutes later, she reappeared — with her bags packed — and boldly declared, “I’m going to find a new family that will let me do whatever I want!”
Elizabeth, a full-time single mom, 32, tells PEOPLE exclusively that Paisley’s outburst didn’t come out of nowhere. Just two weeks earlier, the pair had moved into a new neighborhood in Myrtle Beach, Va., a major transition that brought big changes for the 6-year-old, who is also autistic.
“What can look like a big reaction to a small situation is often a response to a build-up of sensory or emotional overwhelm throughout the day,” Elizabeth says. “And especially when she’s asked to stop doing something that’s a preferred interest or activity, it can feel really disruptive to her. That moment was just her tipping point.”
“It’s been a huge change in her daily life and routine: a new house, new school, new teachers, new friends,” the mom adds. “It’s a lot for any child, but especially for her. Transitions are particularly difficult, and they can really impact how she processes and responds to situations.”
When Paisley announced she was leaving to find a new family, Elizabeth focused on staying calm and compassionate. Instead of trying to physically stop her, she acknowledged her daughter’s feelings and simply told her she loved her.
“I try to give her space, as long as she’s in a safe environment and not a danger to herself or others,” she says. “That’s why I followed her when she walked out the door. It’s all about supporting her while also keeping her safe.”
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Once outside, Paisley made a beeline for the neighbors, who live diagonally across the street. She had a big bag in each hand and a duffle slung over her back, fully committed to her next chapter.
As her daughter marched out the door, Elizabeth started recording the moment. While she knew Paisley’s emotions were very real and valid, she also couldn’t help but recognize her daughter’s flair for the dramatic — and she knew it would be something they’d both laugh about together later.
“At first, I was definitely amused,” the mom tells PEOPLE exclusively. “But that quickly turned into stress and anxiety when I realized she was completely serious and I needed to step in. We have been through many sensory overloads and ‘meltdowns,’ so I know how quickly situations can escalate from 0 to 100.”
It took Elizabeth a few minutes of convincing (and possibly some bribery) to get Paisley to agree to walk back home. Once they got back inside, she eventually calmed down and then sat down and ate her dinner like nothing had ever happened.
Paisley eventually apologized on her own when Elizabeth was tucking her into bed that night. She told her, “I would never want a different mama. I just didn’t want to eat dinner so I was mad at you. But I still love you.”
“It was such a tender moment, and it really showed me how much she’s growing in her ability to reflect and express herself,” Elizabeth says. “She recently just graduated from applied behavior analysis therapy and she’s also done occupational therapy, which has been life-changing for both her and our family, It’s really helped her — and me — develop better coping and communication skills. We use emotional zones, and she loves music, which has been a big part of her calming process.”
Later, Elizabeth posted the video she’d captured of Paisley storming out on TikTok, where it’s since gone viral, amassing more than 5.7 million views and 26,000 comments.
She says it’s been fun reading through all the comments, where parents have shared stories of their own kids doing something similar — or even memories of themselves packing up and “running away” when they were younger. With any video that gets that many views, she says, you always get a handful of negative comments, but she chooses to ignore those.
“This moment really reminded me of how resilient and resourceful my daughter is,” Elizabeth continues. “Even in moments of heightened emotion, she has the ability to self-reflect and express herself afterward, which is such a big step for her.”
“As a parent, it reaffirmed that I need to stay flexible and patient, especially during those emotional moments,” she adds. “It’s easy to get caught up in the chaos of a tantrum or meltdown, but I’m constantly learning that giving her the space to work through her emotions in her own way — and meeting her where she is — is key to helping her grow. It also reminded me to find humor in the little things, because sometimes, laughter is just the best way to cope.”
Later, in a follow-up TikTok, Elizabeth went through what Paisley had packed — and the contents were priceless. In the two smaller bags, she’d stuffed a pair of pajamas, a set of roller skates (even though she doesn’t know how to roller skate), a Where’s Waldo? book, and a stack of other books, including the Bible.
She also packed a Barbie doll suitcase, a headband, a pair of hiking boots that don’t fit and a mismatched set of shoes — one sneaker and one sandal. In the duffle bag? Her cowgirl hat and a few of her favorite stuffed animals.
“I hope this video serves as a reminder that parenting isn’t always picture-perfect — and that’s okay. Especially as the parent of an autistic child, I’ve learned to embrace the chaos, the humor, the challenges, and the beautiful moments in between,” Elizabeth says. “Every day is different, and every day I’m learning. I’m so proud of my daughter, and if sharing pieces of our journey helps even one other parent feel seen, then it’s all worth it!”
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