We're spending a lot of time with our families right now. I mean, it's a lot of time. As we trudge through staying home, parents are noticing a lot of frustrating things their kids do. The behaviors aren't necessarily new, but they are ones parents might otherwise miss.
It's understandable. In the hustle and bustle of life as we knew it, there weren't many moments to slow down and watch your child's every move. Now there are too many of those opportunities. As one mom watched her kids make mess after mess at home, she couldn't help but wonder what the world would look like if adults acted like their kids. With that, she made a video giving us a glimpse.
Melissa Pateras had no idea that the video would blow up the way it has. The mom of three's hilarious take on life kid-style has been shared over 600,000 times. She chatted with Good Morning America about the video and what life is like for her family right now.
Melissa Pateras loves her three kids, ages 17, 15, and 7. That said, she's been feeling irked by some of the little things they do around the house. She told Good Morning America that during these stay-at-home times, "I have spent more time with my kids than ever before."
She added, "With everyone home all of the time, I was finding it difficult to keep up with the constant mess and trail of seemingly endless toys, clothing, and food remnants."
Melissa decided to make a video that's all about what it would be like if adults acted like their kids do. In the video, she does a number of classic kid moves, from spitting on the mirror while brushing her teeth to kicking the back of the seat in front of her in the car. She couldn't believe it when the lighthearted video started racking up shares.
"I thought it might be fun to post a video for my friends and family to have a laugh and to know that they weren’t alone," she explained.
"That we are all struggling and that it’s OK. We have to laugh at it."
"A few hours after I posted it, my phone began to light up with notifications," she continued.
"I was completely shocked!! I couldn’t believe how many people were watching it and sharing it. It was completely unbelievable."
Her video about the kids was just one of many hilarious things Melissa has come up with while staying at home. She's also offered continuing updates on what famous figures her self-isolation hair helps her resemble. She began with Kevin Bacon in Footloose.
Tom Cruise, Scott Baio, and Michael J. Fox are other looks she's hit on in the last month. Since we've come into April, she's channeled Rob Lowe and a young Neil Patrick Harris as Dr. Doogie Howser. Most recently, she compared her stay-at-home look to the late John Ritter circa Three's Company.
Melissa also joined in on a recent trend that moms have been using in their stay-at-home videos. As she tells the sweet version of what her at-home experience has been like. She quietly holds up papers that tell a very different story, and we can all relate.
Melissa also staged her own "Carpool Karaoke"-style interview with the help of her 7-year-old. The two touched on many subjects, such as their shared desire to be a "veterinarius." Her kid also offered Melissa a haircut, although they had a tough time negotiating a price.
Melissa also made a point of spending some quality time with the 17-year-old. Melissa offered a look inside their driving practice, and it's as hilarious as you'd expect. Who hasn't heard their teen say, "That bus came out of nowhere"?
She did get around to getting the haircut from her 7-year-old. If you thought she wouldn't let the kid near her hair with a buzzer, you thought wrong. Melissa's commentary on her stylist's interesting technique is every parent's inner dialogue.
She shows some serious parenting patience in her video when she lets her 7-year-old give her a total makeover. Not many parents would be up for allowing their kid to wax their eyebrows, but Melissa's a trooper. Her daughter's adorable makeup tricks make this video extra-sweet.
After the huge success of the adults acting like kids video, Melissa posted a follow-up with some responses to commenters. She set the record straight on commenters accusing her of promoting "the gay agenda." She even had to comment on her kids, which shouldn't have been necessary. She handled it amazingly.
Melissa also posted another follow-up video where she answers critics. There were many people who commented on her gender expression and sexuality, which is none of their business. She also shot back at people who think that her kids' behavior is not universal.
Melissa's videos are a hilarious reminder that we can control, to a certain extent, how we handle this situation with our families. There's room for us to sympathize with each other. There's also room to laugh about what a mess it's all truly been.
