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Stephanie and Nick McArthur were shocked when they read their daughter’s big semester projectThe doting mom of three tells PEOPLE she was “really confused” when she read the first line of her daughter’s essay, but mostly thought it was “funny”The St. Louis-based mom shares that she was “very surprised” her night out made such a huge impression on her daughter
Stephanie and Nick McArthur were shocked when their daughter’s teacher presented them with her big project during parent-teacher conferences.
The proud parents of three, based in St. Louis, were excited to read the writing sample that the teacher said proved how much their daughter Gwen’s writing had improved over the semester. However, nothing could have prepared them for what the 7-year-old submitted for her nonfiction writing assignment.
“I was really confused when I read the first line, and then I mostly thought it was funny but was a little bit like, of all the things I’ve taken my kids to do, she chooses the one night I went out with friends to write about?” Stephanie, 40, tells PEOPLE. “After reflecting on it, I realize it was actually a compliment that my leaving for a few hours was a big deal to her.”
In a now-viral clip shared on InstagramStephanie shared her daughter’s big writing assignment, which was titled “The Big Night.” The 7-year-old starts off posing a question for her readers.
“Has your mom ever left? Well, mine has. Let me tell you about that,” Stephanie reads in the video, showing her daughter’s project. “I actually did not leave and abandon my family. I just went to dinner with the moms for one night, and then I came home.”
The 7-year-old goes on to describe one night when her mom left for a few hours to have dinner with some other moms. Stephanie tells PEOPLE her kids had a “great night” with their dad, watching a movie, getting dinner and drinking milkshakes. The little girl ended her story, sharing how she was “shocked that mom was FINALLY home” the following day when she woke up.
In the caption for the video, Stephanie reacted to how relatable this moment is for other moms.
“Just in case anyone was wondering how easy it is for moms to go have fun alone for 3 hours,” she wrote. “Share this with a mom who gets it.”
Since sharing her video on social media, other moms have chimed in, sharing their hilarious stories and bonding over similar situations. Stephanie tells PEOPLE that the reactions and stories she’s been receiving since she shared her daughter’s essay have been “so incredible.”
“I have absolutely loved hearing the hilarious stories from other people, and connecting over this shared phenomenon of our kids thinking we’ve ‘abandoned’ them when we leave for a few hours.”
Stephanie McArthur and her family.
Stephanie McArthur
She goes on to share that it’s been “comforting” knowing that other moms are experience a similar situation as her.
“There have been many people who have said their kids still try to guilt them about when they were ‘away’ giving birth to a sibling!” she tells PEOPLE. “It’s so comforting to know that other moms are living the same life as me. I’m amazed in a good way that this hit home for so many people.”
Stephanie McArthur and her family.
Stephanie McArthur
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Reflecting on her daughter’s essay, Stephanie, who’s also a mom to 3-year-old Penelope and 10-year-old Clayton, tells PEOPLE that she was “very surprised” that the night made such a huge impact on her. At first, she admits she struggled to remember which night she even went out, noting that many people have commented that that’s a sign she needs to go out more.
“I was very surprised that the night made such an impression on her. At first, I couldn’t even remember which night I had gone out without them. A lot of people have commented that it means I need to go out more,” she shares. “Maybe that’s true, but as moms it’s always just such a struggle logistically, and emotionally, apparently!”
“I think it felt weird to her because generally when I go out, my husband is with me. It’s pretty rare that I go out alone… again, it’s just a reality of being a mom with young kids,” she continues. “I’m not afraid that she has attachment issues, I think it’s just a stage of life when you’re with your family all of the time, and I’m savoring that until my kids don’t want to hang out with me anymore!”
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