Working Mom Told To Check Daycare Video Feed, In 'Tears' At What She Sees

A working mom was left with "tears" in her eyes after watching her toddler daughter reach a major milestone at daycare. Lauren Pontiff from North Carolina's job meant she watched the moment via a video feed showing her daughter, Lilly Kate, in the setting with one of her carers, Shikira. But while the sight of her child's progress left her happy and proud, it was Shikira's reaction to it that left Pontiff feeling emotional. According to a 2025 analysis compiled by Tootris, a technology platform that connects parents with childcare programs, the average annual cost of infant care in North Carolina is $12,251, or $1,021 a month. While these figures don't put the state in the top 10 for highest childcare expenses, according to the Census Bureau, it represents a significant level of expenditure. Given that kind of outlay, parents would be forgiven for hoping that their child is getting the kind of support and care needed to thrive. Thankfully for Pontiff, watching the video of Lilly Kate provided her with heartwarming proof of exactly that. It was proof so powerful she felt compelled to share it on social media, with the clip posted to her TikTok under the handle @laurenpontiff. It all started when Pontiff got a message from Shikira at the daycare announcing that Lilly Kate had just taken her first steps. "Shikira told me Lilly Kate was walking so we went back on the camera to watch," Pontiff told Newsweek. "I recorded it to send to my husband and all of our family!" Pontiff can still remember how she felt when she saw her daughter take those special steps. "The first time I watched it I was so happy and in shock she walked that far," she said. But when Pontiff watched it for a second time, she had an even stronger emotional reaction, and it wasn't necessarily for the reasons some might have assumed. "The second time I couldn't stop watching how proud and excited Shikira was for my little girl," Pontiff said. "I had tears in my eyes seeing her reaction. It made not being there so worth it seeing how she had the biggest cheerleader cheering Lilly on." Pontiff has grown close to Shikira since Lilly Kate came into her care, so knew of the deeper significance of the moment. "She lost her mom due to an illness. She has been working three jobs to provide a living for herself but still goes to work with a smile on her face every day," Pontiff said. "She still has the biggest happiest heart ever. She loves hard and these babies know it!"

So when Pontiff posted the video on TikTok, she made sure to make Shikira's reaction the main focus. Her efforts did not go unnoticed. At the time of writing Pontiff's video has been watched 4.7 million times, with viewers full of praise for the daycare worker. "So wholesome we need more daycare workers like her," one viewer said. "I've watched this 1,000 times!!!!! She's the best ever," a second commented with a third writing: "That's how you know you picked the right daycare! She loves your baby like she's hers" That outpouring of support for Shikira has morphed into something even more amazing since the video was shared. In a follow-up clip, Pontiff, alongside Shikira, revealed how her video had sparked people to raise funds to support Shikira. While she didn't confirm the full amount, Pontiff said it was enough that she would "not have to worry about rent for the next couple of months." Reflecting on the experience, Pontiff said she hopes her video shows those working moms who feel guilty for being away from their kids that "they are loved and cared for and how it truly does take a village to raise our babies."