Millennial Mom Tests 'Toxic Parenting Phrases' on Her Kids, Is Left 'Overwhelmed' by Their Responses (Exclusive)

Courtesy of Lauren Clark

NEED TO KNOW

• Lauren Clark saw a trend on TikTok that she wanted to take part in

• She tested out phrases that kids used to hear growing up, and wanted to see if her kids knew what the responses are

• Her video of the responses went viral on Instagram and TikTok, amassing over 3 million combined views

Lauren Clark was scrolling social media when she saw a video of millennial parents using "toxic phrases" that their parents used to use on their own children.

The 35-year-old hairdresser, a Rhode Island resident, then asked her kids to gather around. She turned to her 8-year-old and her 10-year-old, saying, "Hey, guys, I really wanna say these sentences to you, and I wanna hear how you would finish them if they were sentences that mommy was saying."

In thevideofirst posted on Jan. 18, Clark says the beginnings of common phrases such as "I'll give you something to..." expecting them to say "cry about." However, her kids' responses were, "I'll give you something to snack on" and "I'll give you something to put away."

The next phrase, "I brought you into this world," also elicited heartwarming replies.

"You are my everything," one of her kids replied, as the other chimed in with their guess, "You're so special to me."

She continued to test out different phrases, tears in her eyes, captioning the clip, "Me realizing in real time that my children feel loved unconditionally."

While speaking to PEOPLE exclusively about the viral clip, Clark says, "Their answers were just everything that you see in the video, and that is my genuine response."

"I was overwhelmed with joy, and it was honestly very healing for me because those were never things that I heard growing up," she continues. "I obviously heard a lot of the original ones. So to have my kids have no idea what any of that even meant, and, even as I was saying it to them, I was trying to use that same tone, that aggressive tone, and they still just finished the sentences with complete love."

Later that night, she told her kids what the real endings to their phrases are and that some parents, including Clark's, have a different way of talking to their children.

"I said, 'My parents didn't state those statements in the same manner. I wanna share with you what we were told when we were kids. This is how some parents still parent their kids,' " she recalls. "I said that, and my children were completely shocked. You don't want your kids to be traumatized the same way that you were. When I said some of the initial endings to the sentences, they were like, 'Why are some parents so cruel? Why don't some parents like their children?' "

The creator of Vintage Peach Haircare shares that in the video and beyond, she was so "proud" because it "shows the difference when you parent and when you actually treat your children like human beings that they are, they don't end up with this negative mindset or negative outlook on the world."

Courtesy of Lauren Clark

When it comes to her social media accounts, Clark usually posts content about her business and rarely shares videos about her kids, especially anything with their faces, online. But after she recorded the trend, she felt she needed to share it with others.

"Initially, I wasn't gonna share it, but I had this intuition to share it with the rest of the world. The way this has taken off shows that millennial parents are healing as a collective. We are really out here trying to do right by our kids and show them unconditional love and show them that they're worthy and not be their first bully," Clark shares.

Almost immediately, people began sharing their stories with her about their own parenting experiences and how watching her video had healed them. While she got so many positive comments on her video, she also got a few negative responses, with some saying that's why children are "soft nowadays."

Courtesy of Lauren Clark

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Her response to that is: "True vulnerability is being yourself and not caring what other people think about that, being able to speak up for yourself and say, 'Hey, I went through these things.' They were awful, but it made me stronger."

"Turning your pain into purpose, that is the beauty of the human experience. That is normal. That's what we should be connecting about these experiences. Not using them against one another," the mom of two continues, noting that she's tuned out a lot of the negative comments.

"It goes to show that everyone has a different perspective and two people can watch the same thing, something that's so beautiful, such an incredible, beautiful moment, and someone will still try to find something negative out of it," Clack concludes.

Read the original article onPeople

byDonna Devi

in

February 14, 2026

Millennial Mom Tests 'Toxic Parenting Phrases' on Her Kids, Is Left 'Overwhelmed' by Their Responses (Exclusive)

Courtesy of Lauren Clark NEED TO KNOW Lauren Clark saw a trend on TikTok that she wanted to take part in She tested out phrases that kids...

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Keke Palmer Shares Her Son's Most Recent Milestone, and What Motherhood Has Taught Her (Exclusive)

Presley Ann/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Keke Palmer opened up about her son's most recent milestone

• Palmer, 32, shares son Leo, 2, with her ex-boyfriend, Darius Jackson

• Palmer caught up with PEOPLE exclusively at the premiere of her new Peacock series, The 'Burbs, in L.A.

Keke Palmershared her son's most recent milestonex and opened up about how watching him grow has changed her approach to adulthood.

Palmer, 32, recently caught up with PEOPLE exclusively at the L.A. premiere of her new Peacock series, the dark comedyThe 'Burbs.During the conversation, the star opened up about raising her 2-year-old son,Leodis "Leo" Andrellton, whom she shares with exDarius Jackson.

"The [most recent] milestones would be my son talking," Palmer shared.

"The process of seeing him grow from being a little baby that didn't speak to having words, opinions and a personality is incredible," she added.

She continued, "He's teaching me — most importantly, I think — just how to relax and how to live, you know what I mean? Like when you see your kid, it really is a mirror to you with your own life, but you're able to give them … what you need to give to yourself. So it's been a real blessing."

Olivia Wong/Getty

"My son is everything to me, you know?" she continued.

As for how she's currentlybalancing work and motherhood, Palmer jokes, "There actually are three of me."

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"It's a lot," she tells PEOPLE. "I feel like after [having] my son, I've become even more intentional with what I choose to do, how I choose to spare my time, you know? I love everything that I do, but I think [I'm] always conscious to have a good team, to make sure that I can handle it all, and be able to organize it, 'cause it is a lot, but I do love it."

Keke Palmer/Instagram

Palmer previously opened up about the challenges of being a single working mom in a heartfeltInstagrampost shared in October 2025, which featured a video of her holding Leo.

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"This is to all my mother's doing it on their own," the actress wrote in the post's caption. "Not as a moment of pity or as a badge of hardship because being a mother is difficult, period. I just want to acknowledge you! It has been a really hard week for me and I honestly try very hard not to make TOO personal of posts."

At the premiere ofThe 'Burbs,Palmer also revealed that she was "excited" to take on the role of Samira — a woman who has just had a baby — in the series, because it tapped into some of her own experiences as a mom.

"It was actually kind of cathartic, because, well, the things that Samira was going through, even with her relationship and how that was impacted by having a child, and then postpartum and how, you know, you're trying to process things [while also being] so porous because you just [had] this human. I really related to a lot of that — and the horror behind it," she explained.

Read the original article onPeople

byDonna Devi

in

February 14, 2026

Keke Palmer Shares Her Son's Most Recent Milestone, and What Motherhood Has Taught Her (Exclusive)

Presley Ann/Getty NEED TO KNOW Keke Palmer opened up about her son's most recent milestone Palmer, 32, shares son Leo, 2, with her ex...

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Anthony Hopkins Played Hannibal Lecter with 'Great Relish,' Said It Was 'Easy' to Step into Role as Terrifying Killer

Mike Coppola/Getty; Orion/mgm

NEED TO KNOW

• The Silence of the Lambs first premiered on Feb. 14, 1991

• 35 years later, Anthony Hopkins' chilling performance as Hannibal Lecter still resonates with viewers

• In a March 1991 interview with PEOPLE, Hopkins, then 53, revealed why he believed the role was one of his "best" works at the time

Thirty-five years afterThe Silence of the Lambsfirst terrified and captivated audiences, the film still stands as a landmark of psychological cinema.

Based on Thomas Harris' 1988 bestseller, the movie reshaped the thriller genre and produced one of the most enduring performances in history. At the center of its legacy isAnthony Hopkins' Dr. Hannibal Lecter– a role that had been passed over by multiple actors before landing in his hands.

"I played Lecter with great relish," Hopkins told PEOPLE exclusively in March 1991, shortly after the film's release.

Orion Pictures

In the film, Hopkins portrays a psychiatrist and psychotic cannibal imprisoned for his crimes, whom the FBI enlists to help profile other serial killers.

Rather than overthinking the role, Hopkins trusted his instincts to guide his character development, especially in the film's tense scenes oppositeJodie Foster's Clarice Starling– an ambitious FBI trainee seeking insight from a man she's terrified of.

"You can't play evil to portray evil," Hopkins, then 53, told PEOPLE while dining at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles. "If you do, it becomes a travesty."

"This was the best, most controlled work I've done," he said, noting that "the part jumped straight off the script into my mind."

"I immediately knew Lecter's voice, how he looked. I understood his complexities. It was easy. I used to make heavy weather of acting. Now I just learn my lines, show up and do it. No need to torture myself."

Ken Regan/Orion/Kobal/Shutterstock

To bring his "wacko" character to life, Hopkins tapped into his personal history, drawing on memories of growing up lonely in working-class Port Talbot, Wales. "Maybe it's in the genes," he admitted.

As an only child, Hopkins described having ''a balanced bond'' with his parents, Richard and Muriel, who ran a bakery. But he also recalled a household shaped by emotional distance. His father, he said, "tended to depression and dark moods."

"I just felt very isolated for years and years, didn't feel I belonged anywhere. It made me depressed and miserable," he told PEOPLE, explaining that he often drew that sense of melancholy into his acting.

As a young boy, school offered little comfort for Hopkins. Despite talent in music and art, he often felt lost in the classroom, describing himself as ''hopeless, pathetic, an idiot.''

''I thought I was nuts, I felt so weird,'' he added, explaining that acting became a way to cope and reclaim control.

''I used to impersonate people – teachers, later on army sergeants and famous actors – and made up bizarre situations for them. It was my way of controlling and getting back at what made me uneasy – authority," he told PEOPLE.

Orion Pictures

That emotional depth, however, didn't prevent Hopkins from keeping the atmosphere on set playful.

Despite being known for intense roles, Hopkins loved to regularly cut through tension bysneaking up behind actors and crewwhile in character forThe Silence of the Lambs.

"Not a shooting day went by without Tony gliding up behind Jodie or myself, baring his fangs," director Jonathan Demme recalled. "Or he'd look round with these gigantic eyes at the whole crew and go, 'You know Jonathan's the mad one. He never blinks. He's quite insane.' "

"His lightness made it easy for everybody else," Demme emphasized.

Whilechatting with PEOPLE in January 2024,Hopkins admitted he still feels the same way about the project over three decades later, calling it "one of the best parts I've ever read."

"I could understand Lecter. I could understand the mystery of the man, the loner, the isolated voice in the dark, the man at the top of the stairs who's not really there," Hopkins, now 88, said.

After its release 35 years ago,The Silence of the Lambsreceived widespread critical acclaim, winning the "big five" Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor for Hopkins, Best Actress for Foster and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Read the original article onPeople

byDonna Devi

in

February 14, 2026

Anthony Hopkins Played Hannibal Lecter with 'Great Relish,' Said It Was 'Easy' to Step into Role as Terrifying Killer

Mike Coppola/Getty; Orion/mgm NEED TO KNOW The Silence of the Lambs first premiered on Feb. 14, 1991 35 years later, Anthony Hopkins...

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Clippers share Chris Paul thank you video after trade earlier in season

Valentine's Day has a funny way of bringing toxic relationships to light.

AfterChris Paul announcement his retirementfrom the NBA on Feb. 13 following his release from the Raptors,scuttling his initial plan to retire after the season, the team that arguably expedited his retirement shared a thank you video on social media. The Clippers, the team whose jersey many fans will associate Paul with in the annals of NBA history, shared a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) after they effectively booted him from the team in December.

The thank you video from the team, posted after midnight ET, features a voiceover from Paul talking about his dreams for the Clippers cut in with some of his highlights, and ends with the words "FOREVER A LEGEND. THANK YOU, CP3."

Thank you, CP3 ♥️pic.twitter.com/CUM8HyxXLO

— LA Clippers (@LAClippers)February 14, 2026

REQUIRED READING:Chris Paul announces NBA retirement after sour ending to final season

Paul, of course, established himself as a franchise icon as part of the Lob City Clippers alongside Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. But what was meant to be his swan song was cut short when he was effectively sent home from the team Dec. 3. At the time, president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank said in a statement:

"Chris is a legendary Clipper who has had a historic career. I want to make one thing very clear. No one is blaming Chris for our underperformance. I accept responsibility for the record we have right now. There are a lot of reasons why we've struggled. We're grateful for the impact Chris has made on the franchise."

It was later reported byESPN's Shams CharaniaPaul wasn't on speaking terms with Clippers coach Tyronn Lue ahead of the ousting.

Paul was traded to the Raptors with the Brooklyn Nets as a third trade partner on Feb. 5 ahead of the NBA trade deadline. After he was waived by Toronto on Feb. 13, he announced his retirement at 40 years old and after 21 seasons.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Paul retires months after being sent home by Clippers, gets thank you video

byDonna Devi

in

February 14, 2026

Clippers share Chris Paul thank you video after trade earlier in season

Valentine's Day has a funny way of bringing toxic relationships to light. AfterChris Paul announcement his r...

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Nigerian rock artist wants people to pause and feel loved in the hustle and bustle of Lagos

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Valentine's Day can be a secondary consideration for some in Lagos.

The Nigerian city of more than 20 million people is renowned for its hustle and bustle, its restless energy and commercial drive — a place where honks from signature yellow passenger buses fill the air.

But Lagos-based rock musician Bianca Okorocha, known as "Clayrocksu," wants people to pause and feel loved as Valentine's Day approaches.

She is taking her music offstage and onto the streets of the city, crooning love songs to random commuters and handing them single-stem roses.

Their faces, first shocked at the encounter, give way to a broad smile as she pulls the strings of her guitar, twanging to James Blunt's "You are Beautiful."

"I am a musician, and we just thought it was a special and nice thing to do for people," Clayrocksu told The Associated Press. "Especially in this time and climate where everything is kind of difficult and all you hear on the news isbad news."

Since Nigerian President Bola Tinubu came to power in 2023, he has undertakenmajor economic reforms, including the removal of a decades-old fuel subsidy program. The government said the changes would save costs and boost investment, but they have resulted in one of the West African nation's worst cost of living crises in a generation.

The country's deadly security crisishas also worsened the fate of millions, limiting access to farmland in the conflict-battered north, which in turn resulted in a surge in the prices of goods elsewhere, including in the economic hub of Lagos.

But amid the tough times, people like Clayrocksu are bringing joy and color to many across the vibrant city in this season of love.

Barbara Lulu, a Lagos resident, who got serenaded by Clayrocksu and her partner, was going about her day stressed until the rock team showed up.

"First off, this was a very shocking moment for me, because I never expected it. It just kind of happened, and all I can say is yay!" she said.

In a city where Valentine's Day is usually focused on lovers, Clayrocksu said that she wants to change that perception and bring roses to many others.

"People think that Valentine's Day is only about romantic gestures, only boyfriend and girlfriend, husband and wife," she said. "But Valentine is really just about sharing love."

byDonna Devi

in

February 13, 2026

Nigerian rock artist wants people to pause and feel loved in the hustle and bustle of Lagos

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Valentine's Day can be a secondary consideration for some in Lagos. The Nigerian city ...

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Sabrina Carpenter Wows in Micro Minidress for Her Own Brand

It's quite clear to say thatSabrina Carpenteris leaning all the way into Valentine's week energy. Keeping up with this pre-existing vibe, she recently served a look that was equal parts flirty and fashion-forward. The "Please Please Please" singer made her mark while posing for her own brand, Sweet Tooth, in an off-shoulder micro minidress.

This pink-hued pick worked wonders for Carpenter's frame, while looking just awesome with her complexion. With glossy black heels with contrasting white socks, she turned this simple promotional moment into a full style statement.

Sabrina Carpenter looks ready for Valentine's Day in micro minidress for her own brand

Have a look at Sabrina Carpenter's latest look here:

View this post on Instagram

Sabrina Carpenter posed like a doll in a pretty off-shoulder dress, which helped her show off her shoulders and collarbone. The pink upper thigh-length dress also helped her show off her curves and elongate her legs.

Further, even the sharp silhouette and playful detailing of the outfit merged pop-star glam with Carpenter's cheeky confidence in black heels, white socks, and minimal accessories, creating just the right look.

Originally reported by Mehak Walia onThe Fashion Spot

The postSabrina Carpenter Wows in Micro Minidress for Her Own Brandappeared first onReality Tea.

byDonna Devi

in

February 13, 2026

Sabrina Carpenter Wows in Micro Minidress for Her Own Brand

It's quite clear to say thatSabrina Carpenteris leaning all the way into Valentine's week energy. Keeping up with this pre-existing...

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James Van Der Beek's Brother Jared Shares Heartbreaking Tribute to the Actor: 'I Didn't Know It Would Hurt So Badly'

Jared Van Der Beek/Instagram

NEED TO KNOW

• Jared Van Der Beek shared a series of rare personal photos alongside his late brother James Van Der Beek

• The news of James' death at age 48 was announced on Feb. 11

• James starred in the titular role in the WB's beloved series Dawson's Creek

James Van Der Beek's brother Jared Van Der Beek shared a touching tribute to the late actor.

On Feb 11, James' wife Kimberly Van Der Beek announced that he had "passed away peacefully" and "met his final days with courage, faith, and grace." The news came three years after James, 48, was diagnosed withstage 3 colorectal cancer.

Jared, 47, shared a heartfeltInstagrampost on Friday, Feb. 13. "There's a special bond that exists between brothers and two days ago, that physical bond was broken," the caption began. "I now know why people call it heartbreak when you lose someone close to you. There is a feeling of devastation and pain that runs so deep in the heart, I didn't know it would hurt so badly."

Jared then said that his brother James was his "person," and "the one I went to for any and all things."

James grew up in Connecticut alongside his brotherJaredand sister Juliana, who are shown in photos in Jared's Instagram post alongside their parentsJames William Van Der Beek Sr.and the lateMelinda Weber.

Jared Van Der Beek/Instagram

"I've looked up to him since I was born. He has never failed to be there for me whenever I needed him. It has been wonderful reading and seeing how he touched so many lives not because of something he did, but because of who he was," Jared's caption continued, adding that James "shared with an open heart and with his wise soul."

Jared then thanked the public for their support as the family grieves the loss of James. "As painful as this pain deep in the heart is, the healing has already begun with all the outpouring of love, prayers, and support. I truly thank all of you have taken the time to reach out, letting me know that you're there," he wrote, while also extending thanks to "the community" who supported the family first hand in James' final days.

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Jared Van Der Beek/Instagram

"James, I already miss your physical being and your words of wisdom over the phone. Yet, I also feel your presence so strongly and I know you will continue to be guiding me. Thank you for living your life with me. I love you," Jared concluded the post.

Jared Van Der Beek/Instagram

After the news of James' death was announced, friends of the family organized aGoFundMe pageto collect donations in James' honor and to "help cover essential living expenses, pay bills, and support the children's education." He and Kimberly sharesix kids, daughters Olivia, 15, Annabel, 12, Emilia, 9, and Gwen, 7, and sons Joshua, 13, and Jeremiah, 4.

Less than 48 hours later, the fundraiser has received over $2.2 million.

Jared Van Der Beek/Instagram

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On Thursday, Feb. 12, the organizers said the support has "been a light" for James' friends and family.

"Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for showing up for James and his beautiful family," the update on the fundraising page read. "Your kindness has meant more than we can put into words. In the middle of deep grief, your support has been a light. It reminds us that love is real, that community is strong, and that James's spirit continues to bring people together."

Read the original article onPeople

byDonna Devi

in

February 13, 2026

James Van Der Beek's Brother Jared Shares Heartbreaking Tribute to the Actor: 'I Didn't Know It Would Hurt So Badly'

Jared Van Der Beek/Instagram NEED TO KNOW Jared Van Der Beek shared a series of rare personal photos alongsid...

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