A woman out for a run got an unexpected dose of cuteness when she spotted a mama skunk trying to wrangle her babies across a front yard — and every parent watching could instantly relate.
The sweet moment was captured on June 18 by TikTok user @iam.taja, who came across the skunk family during her run. In the clip, the mother skunk can be seen carefully leading at least six tiny kits as they make their way through someone’s yard.
But like any mom with a bunch of little ones to keep track of, she had to keep stopping and looking back.
The baby skunks toddled behind her, wandering just enough to make the whole scene feel hilariously familiar to anyone who has ever tried to get several kids moving in the same direction at once.
The mama skunk clearly had her paws full, but she kept a watchful eye on her babies as they slowly crossed the yard together.
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Even though baby skunks may grow up to be known for their powerful stink, there was no denying how adorable the little kits were in the video. Luckily for the person filming, baby skunks do not fully develop their scent glands until they are a few months old. They may carry a bit of scent from their mom in their fur, but these little ones did not appear to have any reason to spray.
The daytime sighting also had some viewers wondering just how many skunks may be wandering through yards when people are not paying attention.
But most viewers were focused on the mama skunk’s relatable parenting moment.
“Her looking back every four seconds because toddlers be disappearing the second you turn your head,” one commenter joked.
That line struck a chord with other parents, who recognized the exact same struggle. Whether it is human toddlers or tiny skunk kits, keeping a group together can apparently be a full-time job.
As cute as the babies were, this mama probably has a long year ahead of her. Young skunks usually stay with their mother for about a year before heading off on their own.
For now, though, this hardworking skunk mom is doing what moms everywhere do best: keeping everyone moving, counting heads and making sure nobody gets left behind.