One of the hardest parts of the coronavirus pandemic isn't staying home as much as possible and keeping ourselves and those in our household safe... but rather it's the staying away from our family members that live outside our homes and who are at a higher risk when it comes to COVID-19: like our parents and grandparents.
One woman found an incredible solution to being able to spend a little time and actually HUG her mom, though, and this creativity deserves some applause.
The woman purchased an inflatable hippo costume - complete with a pink tutu! - which makes it completely safe for her to be able to hug her mom who is currently living in a nursing home.
In a video posted online, the daughter is seen holding her arms out in the hippo costume, having mom come on over. The suit is sterilized and totally safe for mom to REALLY lean into the hug and the moment is so sweet you have to see it:
And now, those hippo costumes are flying off the shelves!
The Ballerina Hippo costume is in high demand, ever since a daughter hugging her mom in a senior living center went viral. The company sold around 75 of the same hippo ballerina costume in 2019, but this year ... 450 suits have already been sold.
There are only a few left in stock at HalloweenCostumes.com. In fact, it’s the third top seller on the site right now, even after doubling its original price tag to $120. Holding the top spot is the "Jurassic World" T-Rex inflatable suit, which is currently out of stock. Only 20 of those sold last year but 600 were sold in 2020.
So if you're thinking you could *really* use a hug with a parent or something at high risk (or who you just aren't supposed to be close to due to quarantine) it may be time to invest in one of these suits!
I certainly hadn't thought about this for hugging my parents, but I am starting to think I should!! I miss them so much.
What have you been doing to get creative with family members??
Get more from Sisanie here! And sound off on social @OnAirWithRyan: Would you try this?