Woman Accidentally Reads Dad’s Text to Her Mom, What It Says Makes Her Cry

A video showing a couple’s “adorable” text exchange on a plane has gone viral on Instagram.

The video was shared by Piper Phillips (@piperphillips), a 23-year-old marketer and content creator in the New York City borough of Manhattan. The video has had 32 million views since it was first posted on March 5. The moment was captured last week on a United flight traveling from Palm Beach, Florida, to Chicago.

The clip begins with Phillips sitting on a plane, holding her hand over her mouth, while looking at the camera. A message overlaid on the video says: “Accidentally read my dad’s text to my mom while flying home from my grandparents.”

Phillips told Newsweek: “My parents have been together 25 years in August. They have always been very close and affectionate. They met at a bar in Chicago, and ran into each other two nights in a row. The rest is history.”

The video then flashes to a view of a hand holding a mobile phone that shows a text message thread with a contact named “Robert.” A message in the thread says, “Love you honey, home soon,” with several kissing face emojis placed after it.

That message is followed by a reply that reads “Would you like an iced oat milk latte waiting for you in the car when I pick you up?” A message in the reply box of the text screen says, “You are so sweet.”

A note overlaid on the video says: “To be loved is to be known.” A caption shared with the post reads: “& even after 24 years married… goals. Consider this your sign to never settle.”

The endearing exchange between the couple in the viral clip is understandable because Americans largely believe that small gestures are what make them feel loved.

A study by researchers from the Pennsylvania State University published in 2017 in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, found that small, non-romantic gestures, such as someone showing compassion or snuggling with a child instead of just saying “I love you,” topped the list of what makes people feel loved.

An October 2023 study in the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, conducted among couples who have been married for more than 40 years, found that the top seven “secrets” to relationship longevity are commitment, altruism, shared values, good communication, compromise (a give and take), love and never giving up.

‘We Want a Love Like This’

Phillips said her dad is a drummer and her mom “almost always” goes to his shows to support him, “despite the fact that she’s heard the same songs 100,000 times.”

She explained: “She is incredibly caring and selfless. My dad is always doing thoughtful things for my mom and brings great positive chaos into our family…

“They have set a perfect example of what a healthy, happy relationship should look like. I’m super grateful to have them in my life and have amazing relationships with both my mom and my dad,” Phillips added.

The viral clip has sparked people on Instagram to set their own relationship goals, with several moved by the dad’s gesture, such as daphne.scott who wrote “Stop, I’m gonna cry now.”

User krispykremeuk wrote: “True love” and uncletics said: “That’s adorable.”

“The simple things truly mean the most!” commented native64texan and badiyeva said. “now that’s the goal.”

“We want a love like this,” said shoponpickle and snoopyywo wrote: “Awweee, I hope when I get married someday it’ll be like this.”

User beconatorr wrote: “Thoughtfulness is just SO elite. There is nothing better than thoughtfulness.”

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