Moms Pay It Forward as Part of #SheDeservedThePurse Trend

Moms make sacrifices, big and small, for their little ones every day. From giving up their free time to sharing their meal with a picky toddler, mothers often place themselves second, if not last, to ensure their family gets what they need. Nowhere has this been more powerfully and poetically displayed than with the recent #SheDeservedThePurse movement.

Last week, DeNaesha Gonzalez went viral on TikTok after sharing a video of a sparkly purse left in the baby care aisle of Target with the simple but powerful text “She Deserved The Purse” written across the screen. In her caption, Gonzalez explained how the purse symbolized the small, often unnoticed sacrifices that moms make every day. “To the Mother who chose themselves last, you deserve the world tonight and always,” she poignantly wrote.

The post quickly gained traction, as mothers flooded the comments with their own stories. “I wanted that blouse, but she looks so cute in her Bluey dress,” one mom shared. “Crying because it’s so much more than a purse; it’s a representation of all our sacrifices,” added another. One commenter expressed a common sentiment: “Every time I see an item left in the baby aisle, I always wish I could find the mom and buy it for her.”

Inspired by the #SheDeservedThePurse movement and the thousands of comments from parents across the country, several moms—including TikTok momfluencer Cecily Bauchmann (@cecilybauchmann—banded together to pay it forward. These mothers have started a movement of their own, tucking gift cards or extra cash into diaper boxes and other baby essentials at Target.

“This is going to make me cry because I remember having to put things back that I couldn’t afford for myself,” Bauchmann recalled in an emotional video. “Whoever is seeing this, just know you are loved. Moms, you are amazing.” After slipping a sweet note and a gift card into a box of diapers, Bauchmann left the store, explaining she was inspired by Gonzalez’s TikTok and encouraging others to keep the kindness going.

While some raised concerns that people might start tearing open packages in hopes of finding gift cards or money, others suggested more direct ways to pay it forward—such as giving money to mothers in-store or discreetly leaving it behind with their purchases. One mom shared her own touching experience: “I had put a pair of sandals back. When I turned around, they were back in my cart with a $20 bill on them. I got home, and there was another $50 hidden under the wipes lid, and $20 tucked into the diaper pack.” Other commenters suggested supporting nonprofits like Baby2Baby or the National Diaper Bank Network, which provide essential items to families in need.

In the end, whether it’s a kind gesture in a store or a donation to a cause, paying it forward to mothers is a reminder that their sacrifices don’t go unnoticed. It’s a small but powerful way to say, “You deserve this.” Because, after all they give, sometimes moms just need to be reminded that they deserve the world too.