4th grader gives dad a shirt he sewed himself and now he’s a TikTok legend

Gifts from your child are so precious. Even if they hand you a thousand stick-figure drawings, it still warms your heart to know they made it just for you. Imagine the pride when your child hands you a shirt he sewed just for you. Warm fuzzies overload.

Aaron Gouveia is a father of three and an avid TikToker. He posts about the struggles of parenthood as well as lighthearted moments with his wife and kids. Recently, he captured the moment when his 9-year-old son, Sam, gave him a shirt he sewed just for him. And Sam’s reaction is absolutely heart-warming.

The clip begins with Sam walking into his parents’ bedroom, holding a long-sleeve, button-down floral blue shirt in his hands.

“I got a shirt that I made at sewing class,” Sam starts.

“You made that?” his dad asks.

“I did the buttons and I did the button holes,” Sam continues. “I got some help but I did most of it by myself.”

Then, his dad tries it on. It’s a perfect fit! Aaron Gouveia shows his enthusiasm for his son’s gift as he marvels over the small details of the shirt.

“Yeah! Look at this,” Aaron says. “The collar is so unique.”

The camera pans to Sam and his sweet little face is beaming with happiness. Such a wholesome moment.

His dad gives Sam the phone so he can show off the back which features a box pleat. Sam shares he doesn’t know what it is but it was “hard” to craft. Aaron also asks Sam if he can wear his new top out to dinner to which Sam happily says yes.

“Why did you choose this pattern?” Aaron asks.

“Why I chose the pattern is, it just looks cool to me. It stands out to me,” Sam explains. “And it goes with jeans like you usually wear.”

The sweet father-son moment is going viral. Aaron’s video has been watched more than 12 million times in just a couple of days. Comments have been pouring in showing support for Sam’s talent.

“THE WAY HE WAS STANDING THERE SMILING. I cannot. He is precious.”

“I have a degree in fashion design. That there is raw, natural talent. That kid is going places if he pursues sewing!”

Aaron Gouveia spoke to TODAY and shared that Sam is a neurodivergent child. He recently started taking an after-school sewing class.

“He’s an old soul. He’s always connected way more with adults than he does with kids,” Gouveia said. He also shared that Sam is teased at school and that his peers “don’t understand him or his interests.”

“When I showed Sam the comments on TikTok, he lit up. It completely brightened him. He’s so happy to get that validation from people,” Gouveia says. 

Aaron Gouveia posted a follow-up video showing Sam’s cute reaction to all of the love he’s received.

A version of this story was originally published on March 28, 2023. It has been updated.