Surprise sleepover started heartwarming online trend
Adult grandchildren surprise grandparents with sleepover
The adult grandkids went viral on TikTok after they surprised their grandparents with a sleepover.
A new trend sweeping the internet is bringing adult grandchildren closer to their grandparents.
TikTok users are filming themselves surprising their grandparents with sleepovers under the hashtag #cousinsleepover - showing up to their homes with pillows, blankets and pajamas in tow.
The sweet gesture showcased adult cousins using their time at home for the holidays to plan a special night for their grandparents and enjoying old family traditions.
PENNSYLVANIA GRANDKIDS SUPRIRSE THEIR GRANDPARENTS WITH ‘ADULT COUSINS SLEEPOVER’ FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Emily Sindoni smiles alongside ‘Pop Pop’ Tony Sindoni at her family’s cousin sleepover in New Jersey over the holidays. (Emily Sindoni)
Emily Sindoni, a fitness director in New York City, gathered her 10 cousins to partake in the trend, with her heartwarming video amassing over six million views on TikTok.
"We really spent a lot of time growing up together," Sindoni told Fox News Digital. "My cousins and I, we tell our grandparents everything. They were always there for holidays, dance recitals, you name it - so we all have a really special relationship with our grandparents."
When Sindoni saw a similar video online, she knew she had to organize a "Cousin Sleepover" for her own family. With the entire family traveling home to New Jersey for the holidays, they decided it was a great time to surprise "Pop Pop" Tony and "Mum Mum" Pat.
"I sent [my cousins] the video and immediately everyone jumped on the idea," Sindoni said.
FLORIDA GRANDPA AND GRANDDAUGHTER GO VIRAL ON TIKTOK FOR THEIR JOY OVER PRE-SCHOOL PICKUP
All 10 cousins donned their pajamas and arrived with pizzas in hand. They opted to stagger their arrivals with each cousin arriving one-by-one, which added to the excitement for their grandparents as they realized everyone would be joining in on the fun.
"Now everybody’s here," Pat Sindoni can be heard exclaiming in the video as the final cousins arrive.
‘Mum Mum’ Pat and ‘Pop Pop’ Tony Sindoni are all smiles in their matching Christmas pajamas. (Emily Sindoni)
The family spent the night catching up on each other’s lives and playing family-favorite games that were traditional in their household. Sindoni also hopes that this will become an annual event for her and her cousins, with a new surprise in store for their grandparents next year.
"You can't pull the same surprise off twice, but we would love to keep this going in some capacity - but change it up year-to-year," Sindoni told Fox News Digital.
OHIO GRANDSON TAKES 92-YEAR-OLD GRANDMOTHER TO VISIT EVERY SINGLE NATIONAL PARK: ‘TRANSFORMATIONAL’
The trend took social media by storm as videos of shocked grandparents with a house full of kids flooded TikTok. The wholesome movement garnered instant support on the app, with the hashtag #cousinsleepover reaching 17 million views online.
"You don’t have to do the gifts and the games and all the extra stuff, it’s really [about] spending time with your loved ones, especially your grandparents while you have them."
— Emily Sindoni
One TikTok user took note of how the kids were arriving with food for the group and things to do in hand - a touching gesture that allowed the grandparents to sit back and enjoy the time with their families.
"Please notice how they came with food and gifts and activities. Not to burden them with feeding and entertaining them. Beautiful gesture," she wrote.
"Surprise Sleepover at Grandparents must be ranked as #1 trend of 2023", another commented.
Grandparents Pat and Tony Sindoni smile alongside their 10 grandchildren at their surprise sleepover. (Emily Sindoni)
Sindoni hopes that the trend will serve as a reminder for grandchildren to take time out of their busy lives to enjoy an evening with the people they love.
"You don’t have to do the gifts and the games and all the extra stuff, it’s really [about] spending time with your loved ones, especially your grandparents while you have them," Sindoni said.
Julia Bonavita is a Fox News Digital Production Assistant for Photo and Video. Julia earned a master’s degree in Multimedia Journalism from New York University and a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Political Science from Florida Gulf Coast University. She has previously worked for the National Basketball Association (NBA), Getty Images, and as a freelance photographer for The Palm Beach Post and Naples Daily News/The News-Press. You can follow her at @juliabonavita13 on Twitter.
