Every parent has been there — a tired child, a long shopping trip, and a desperate moment of calm.

UK mom Samantha Mary was at Tesco with her little boy, Jack, who hadn’t eaten properly for a week. When he reached for a baby food pouch from the trolley, she let him have it. “He finally wanted something to eat,” she said. “I wasn’t going to say no.”

At checkout, Samantha placed the empty pouch and half-finished yogurt at the front, explaining honestly that her son had eaten them. But instead of understanding, the cashier gave her a “disgusted look” and tossed the items in the bin. When Samantha tried to explain, the woman “tutted and huffed” — telling her she didn’t agree with what she’d done. “I’ve never been spoken to so badly and been so judged as a mom,” Samantha said tearfully.

Her TikTok video has been viewed over a million times, dividing viewers. Some sided with the store, saying rules are rules. Others defended Samantha, saying compassion should come before policy.

As the debate rages on, one question remains: when it comes to parenting and empathy — have we all forgotten what a little kindness looks like?