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Garage door falls on truck, forcing single mom to give 9-yr-old an impromptu driving lesson

You never know where parenting is going to take you.

Photo credit: Canva

Bet this was not on her bingo card for the day.

Parenting often means using whatever resources you’ve got around you—and that goes double for single moms and dads. For a Tennessee-based single mom named Taylor, being resourceful meant giving her nine-year-old daughter Sophie an impromptu driving lesson.

From a clip posted to Taylor’s TikTok, we can deduce that she had been pulling her truck out from the garage at 6 a.m. when the garage door FELL ONTO THE CAR (how’s that for new nightmare fuel?). Luckily, the rails on top of the truck protected it and the passengers from any blows, but it was nonetheless stuck.

Having no one to come help in time, Taylor taught Sophie how to reverse the car while she stood on her tip toes to hold up the door, and her younger child recorded the whole thing.

@taylorctn423 BEING A SINGLE MOM IS NOT FOR THE WEAK! This morning my garage door came down on my truck. My dad is 5hrs away and I had nobody but myself and my girls. So what did I do? I taught my 9yo how to back up my truck while I held the garage door up. Thank goodness my truck has the rails on top or it could’ve been worse. My days are never boring. On a side note.. I need a new garage door. Where are my garage contractors at? #redvelvet #ginga #girlmom #singlemom ♬ Thunderstruck - AC/DC

While the video has AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" overshadowing any conversation, Taylor recalled her instruction in an interview with Newsweek:

"I told her, 'Your left foot is useless, leave it to the side. Put your right foot on the brake and ease your foot off when I tell you to.'” she said. "Once I got the garage lifted off my truck I said, 'OK, now gently ease your foot off the brake. Easy. Now brake!'"

Honestly, that’s solid advice right there.

The video quickly racked up 7.5 million views and tons of praise for the way Taylor handled the less-than-ideal situation. Not to mention there were quite a few folks who recognized how cool this moment must have been for Sophie.

"Strong women raising strong women"

"With a sundress and tiptoes?! You win the day.”

“You kid waited their whole life for this moment.”

“Oh I just know her lunchtime debrief with her friends is going to be amazing.”

“It will be a core memory for her life”

“You- irritated, overstimulated, annoyed, etc. Your 9yo- OMG THIS WAS SO COOL. Your younger one recording- mom can I do it next time.”

Thanks to multiple requests, Taylor did end up sharing another video, this time without the background music, so that the entire conversation could be witnessed. Let’s just say it paints a very different picture.

@taylorctn423 Replying to @Starbinder the highly requested video without the audio😅 Our 6yo camera girl was supportive towards the end #singlemom #girlmom #trending #garage #ford #girlmom ♬ original sound - Taylor

“Okay, without the music, I can feel mama’s stress,” one person wrote. And they’re not wrong. What the first clip didn’t depict is Taylor having to navigate this while her little one is screaming with anxiety. Fun times. But on the flip side, we get to hear the younger child being very proud of her big sis. So there's that.

As one person quipped, “camera girl was going through so many emotions.”

@taylorctn423 Replying to @Lv2Laf 🤗🇺🇸 my 6yo who took the video! I have been reading the comments to the girls are they are so excited about all of it! #singlemom #girlmom #trending #garage #ford #ginga #redvelvet #ginger #daughter #redhead #taylorswift ♬ NO MUSIC - Sok Baraby

In her video's caption, Taylor wrote, “BEING A SINGLE MOM IS NOT FOR THE WEAK,” and if this video is any indication, truer words were never written. But she’s doing a great job at raising two more strong gals, just like her.

And in case anyone is wondering—Taylor's dad, who lives six hours away and couldn’t help with the emergency promptly at the time, will be replacing that faulty garage door. Huzzah.

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Ultramarathoner stopped to breastfeed her baby three times during her race—and still won

Stephanie Case had zero expectation of winning the 61-mile race—she just wanted to feel like an athlete again.

Photos courtesy of Stephanie Case/Facebook

Stephanie Case won the Ultra-Trail Snowdonia race in Northern Wales in May of 2025.

Running an ultramarathon is a feat most humans won't ever even attempt, much less successfully complete. Far more taxing than a regular marathon, ultramarathons not only exceed 26.2 miles—often doubling or tripling those miles—but they frequently wind through rugged terrain with steep elevation changes. It takes an elite level of fitness, athleticism, and mental fortitude to compete in ultramarathons, much less to win one.

So imagine the practically superhuman level of all of the above it would take to win an ultramarathon six months after having a baby and while breastfeeding—which is exactly what 42-year-old mom Stephanie Case did, to everyone's surprise.

Case ran the Ultra-Trail Snowdonia race in Northern Wales in May of 2025 with zero expectations of winning it. She hadn't competed in three years, and after navigating two miscarriages, two egg retrievals, and three rounds of IVF treatments to have her daughter, Pepper, she wasn't sure if she would ever return to it. But as her pregnancy progressed, so did her desire to be an athlete, so she began the meticulous training process of getting her body ready to run 61 miles (100 km), while also preparing to give birth.

"My goals were to enjoy myself and make sure Pepper was fed at aid stations," Case wrote in an Instagram post. "As I no longer have a UTMB index, I started in the last wave, 30 min after the leaders. Sure, I had hundreds of runners in front of me, but I could go at my own pace in blissful ignorance of my placing."

That blissful ignorance turned to delighted surprise when she was informed that she had won. The human rights lawyer and mom had breastfed her six-month-old three times at aid stations during the race, and she had no idea where she stood among the competitors until the race was over.

"It truly was like riding a bike - every kilometre that passed reminded me that I hadn’t lost a thing over these past three years," she wrote. "In fact, I have gained way more joy and strength from this sport as a mom than I ever did before. While it broke my heart to leave little Pepper at the aid stations, I wanted to show her - both of us - how amazing mom runners can be."

However, Case is also clear about how difficult it was to train for and to complete the race, especially after receiving some negative feedback from people who says she's setting the bar too high.

"The response has been so positive, but there has been a negative cohort,” she told The Guardian. “Part of those are just misogynists, but the others are exhausted mums who look at this story and think, oh my God, I could never do that. Now there’s even more pressure on us to be able to have a baby and work and run races and now breastfeed during races.

“I don’t want anyone to feel badly about themselves out of a story like this. I’m quite open about how hard it is and how much support I have, and the messy parts of it. At 95k I was done, dry heaving and peeing all over myself. I ran with devices internally. It’s not all rainbows and bunnies and a lot of things have to come together for something like that to happen.”

One of those things was pelvic floor training. In France, where Case lives and gave birth, it's standard practice for postpartum mothers to have 10 sessions with a midwife for pelvic floor therapy. (American moms, take note.) That was one of many steps and supports that helped prepare her body for the ultramarathon.

Case wants moms to know that having a baby doesn't mean you have to put your goals or dreams aside.

"Whether you are thinking of being a mom, are pregnant, or are a new mom yourself, don’t be afraid to keep setting big goals for yourself," she writes. "Everyone has an opinion about what new moms should or shouldn’t be doing, and that doesn’t open up a lot of space for 'out there' ideas like running an ultra. Should I spend this much time away from my baby? Is it harmful to my body? What about my milk supply? My coach helped me navigate these questions and the social pressures that come with being a new mom runner, but we need to work together to remove the pressure in the first place and provide more support."

Support is definitely key, but let's give credit where it's due to Case herself. Even with all the support in the world, winning an ultramarathon while breastfeeding a six-month-old is an incredible physical and mental feat. Kudos to this mama for making it happen.

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Single mom teaches 13-year-old son how to date with monthly "practice dates" on a $50 budget

"The idea is you are prepping them for how to take a girl out on a date in the future."

Melissaannmariee/YouTube

Melissa Ann Marie and her 13-year-old son go on "practice dates" each month.

Let's be honest: dating is not easy at any age. For most pre-teens and teens, though, this tender age marks the start of romantic ventures. One mom is making sure her son has a few dating lessons under his belt before going on a real one.

TikToker Melissa Ann Marie (@melissaannmarie), a single mom in California, shared how she is preparing her 13-year-old son to date and be a stand-up partner in the future. She has started a tradition of going on a "practice date" with him once a month, where he does all the planning with a $50 budget (an allowance given to him by her).

"Come with me on a date with my boy 🥹 I heard about this idea from another teen/pre-teen boy mama and we've done this a handful of times now. We always have the best time with it!" she captioned the video.

@melissaannmariee

Come with me on a date with my boy 🥹 I heard about this idea from another teen/pre-teen boy mama and weve done this a handful of times now. We always have the best time with it! Basically you give them an allowance ($50) and they take you out on a date. The idea is you are prepping them for how to take a girl out on a date in the future so they aren’t completely lost when the time comes. So you help them along the way with how to plan and execute a date and you teach them basic etiquette and manners. And while you are teaching them, you get quality time with them which is the best part. What did he learn today?! -to open the doors for his date -not to walk ahead of his date -pay attention to their preferences with things (places they would want to go too) -pull their chair at a dinner table -learned how to give a waiter a non-verbal cue & signal for the check -learned how to make a reservation online -learned how to pay for everything all on his own - to get creative and thoughtful with a date & not a lot of money to spend 👏🏼 He planned a really sweet one this time and I really i enjoyed teaching him these things along the way and getting some one on one time together. I can’t wait to do this again and see what he comes up with. Trying to teach my boy all of these things so he can be the best partner for someone someday 🤍 #boymom #boymomlife #parentsofteens #motherhood #sandiego #fyp #parentingtips #gentleman

In the video, she took viewers on her date with him. He planned a morning date to a cat cafe. The two spent time playing with the cats and sipping on yummy coffee drinks before heading to a coastal walking trail to take in some scenic ocean views. They also stopped for tacos (which set them slightly over the $50 budget), but she notes she had him practice paying with her credit card.

"The idea is you are prepping them for how to take a girl out on a date in the future so they aren’t completely lost when the time comes," she wrote in the caption. "So you help them along the way with how to plan and execute a date and you teach them basic etiquette and manners."

She added that the best part about investing time in teaching him to date is the quality time they spend together.

@melissaannmariee

GRWM for a date with my boy 🥹 I heard about this idea from another teen/pre-teen boy mama and weve done this a handful of times now. We always have the best time with it! Basically you give them an allowance ($50) and they take you out on a date. The idea is you are prepping them for how to take a girl out on a date in the future so they aren’t completely lost when the time comes. So you help them along the way with how to plan and execute a date and you teach them basic etiquette and manners. And while you are teaching them, you get quality time with them which is the best part. What did he learn last night?! -to open the doors for me -not to walk ahead of your date -pay attention to their preferences with things (ex. ask where they want to sit in the movies— not just where YOU want) -pulled my chair for me -learned to give a waiter a non-verbal cue & signal for the check -learned how to pay for everything all on his own - to get creative and thoughtful with not a lot to spend 👏🏼 He planned a really fun one and i enjoyed teaching him these things and getting some one on one time together. I can’t wait to do this again! Trying to teach my boy all of these things so he can be the best partner for someone someday 🤍 #boymom #boymomlife #parentsofteens #motherhood #sandiego #fyp #parentingtips #gentleman

While dating culture may be different today, Melissa Ann Marie notes that she is instilling traditional values when it comes to teaching her son to date. "Trying to teach my boy all of these things so he can be the best partner for someone someday 🤍. What did he learn today?!" she shared, before offering a bullet list of lessons. These included:

  • To open the doors for his date
  • Not to walk ahead of his date
  • To pay attention to their preferences with things (places they would want to go, too)
  • Pull their chair at a dinner table-learned how to give a waiter a non-verbal cue & signal for the check
  • Learned how to make a reservation online
  • Learned how to pay for everything all on his own
  • To get creative and thoughtful with a date & not a lot of money to spend 👏🏼
@melissaannmariee

breaking cycles I never signed up for 💔 #singlemom #soloparent #momandson #motherhood #motherhoodunplugged

Her followers are loving her example of how to teach her son about dating.

"I did Mom/son dates. My son is 23 now and his fiancé says he’s the sweetest guy she’s ever met," one wrote, and Melissa Ann Marie replied, "YES MAMA 👏🏼 we are raising men who will be husbands one day!"

Another added, "You’re going to be such an amazing mother in law, setting him up for success like that! 👏," and she responded, "Yes!! That’s the goal! 🥺"

And another touched viewer wrote, "This is SUCH a good and thoughtful idea. It warms my heart knowing there are parents out there that are doing everything they can to raise gentleman ❤️."

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Millennial mom is stunned when grandma compares parenting in the 80s to now

Taylor Wolfe couldn't believe her mom slept soundly without any kind of baby monitor.

@thedailytay/TikTok
"My anxiety could not have handled the 80s."

Raising kids is tough no matter what generation you fall into, but it’s hard to deny that there was something much simpler about the childrearing days of yesteryear, before the internet offered a million and one ways that parents could be—and probably are—doing it all very, very wrong.

What's especially fascinating is that our data and best-practices have gotten so much better over time. Parents in the 80s had no idea that crib bumpers were dangerous, just like their parents didn't know that using whiskey as a sleep aid probably wasn't the best idea! We know better, and yet, we're burdened by the overwhelming amount of knowledge and potential dangers around us.

Taylor Wolfe, a millennial mom, nails this conundrum perfectly this as she asks her own mother a series of rapid-fire questions about raising her during the 80s and the stark contrast in attitudes becomes blatantly apparent.


80s, parenting, millennial mom, motherhood, millennial parens, boomer grandparents, moms, dads, parents, kidsParenting in 2025 is a lot different than in the 1980s. Photo by Alexander Dummer on Unsplash

In a clip posted on TikTok, Wolfe and her mom sit side by side on the couch and have a fascinating discussion.

First off, Wolfe can’t comprehend how her mom survived without being able to Google everything. (Not even a parent, but I feel this.)

“What did we have to Google?” her mom asks while shaking her head incredulously.

“Everything! For starters, poop!” Wolfe says. “Cause you have to know if the color is an okay color, if it's healthy!”

“I was a nursing mom, so if the poop came out green, it was because I ate broccoli,” her mom responds.

…Okay, fair point. But what about handy gadgets like baby monitors? How did Wolfe’s mom keep her kid alive without one?

“I was the monitor, going in and feeling you,” she says. Wolfe asked her mom how she slept without a baby monitor and knowing for certain, at every instant, that she was safe? "We just slept" her mom deadpanned.

@thedailytay

My anxiety would have hated the 80s. Or maybe loved it? IDK! #fyp #millennialsontiktok #parenttok #momsoftiktok #comedyvid

Could it really be that easy? It was for Wolfe’s mom, apparently. Rather than relying on technology, she simply felt her child and adjusted accordingly.

“If you were hot, you slept in a diaper. If you were cold, you had a blanket around you.” Done and done.

Wolfe then got into more existential questions, asking her mom if she ever felt the stress of “only having 18 summers” with her child, and how to make the most of it.

Without missing a beat, Wolfe's mother says, “It's summer, I still have you.”

Cue the tears!

Going by Wolfe’s mom, the 80s seems like a time with much less pressure on parents.


@thedailytay

She had some big feelings. #parentsoftiktok #gentleparenting #satire #fyp #foryoupage #momlife #parents #millennialsoftiktok

From feeding her kids McDonald’s fries guilt-free to being spared the judgment of internet trolls, she just sort of did the thing without worrying so much if she was doing it correctly.

That’s nearly impossible in today’s world, as many viewers commented.

“Google just gives us too much information and it scares us,” one person quipped.

Another seconded, “I swear social media has made me wayyyy more of an anxious mom."

"it's almost like all the technology, and it's advertising, leads to so much unnecessary anxiety" someone added.

Even a professional noted: “As someone who has worked in pediatrics since the 80s, the parents are way more anxious now.”

It's no wonder that parents' mental health is, collectively, in the toilet. We're more stressed today about money, work-life balance, getting into good schools, signing up for activities that gobble up all our time... everything.

Experts say there are ways parents can manage the stresses of modern life, though. Reducing phone and social media use, for starters, is a good way to avoid ruminating on all the potential dangers of the world. Parents are also challenged to push themselves out of their comfort zone by allowing their child more freedom and independence than they'd normally be comfortable with. For example, letting your kids walk to school or go buy something from a store without your help.

I don’t think anyone truly wants to go back in time, per se. But many of us are yearning to bring more of this bygone mindset into the modern day. And the big takeaway here: No matter how many improvements we make to life, if the cost is our mental state, then perhaps it’s time to swing the pendulum back a bit.

This article originally appeared two years ago. It has been updated.

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