A 6-year-old boy has become an internet sensation after he refused to remove his mask for a school photo because his mother told him to keep it on unless he’s eating.
Little Mason People’s obedience is being praised online even though he may have taken his mother’s words too seriously and literally.
When it was already time to have his portrait taken, the photographer couldn’t believe it when Mason politely refused the invitation to remove his mask.
“My mommy said to keep it on all the time unless I’m eating and far away from everybody,” Mason told the photographer.
The shocked photographer then replied: “I’m sure it’s ok to take it off for your pictures.”
But little Mason wouldn’t defy his mother’s instructions, saying: “No, my mom seriously told me to make sure to keep it on.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to take it off for two seconds?” the photographer asked, to which the young boy replied: “No, thank you! I always listen to my mom!”
The photographer realized he couldn’t persuade the first-grader to remove his mask, so he took a photo with Mason’s mask hiding his adorable smile.
“OK, say cheese!” the photographer said.
The young boy’s mother, Nicole Peoples, took to Facebook and shared the interaction. It has gained over 23,000 reactions and more than 16,000 shares!
“I love it! What an incredible keepsake from this crazy era we’re living through,” one person commented.
“You should be proud! It has to be hard to stand up to an adult but he had the confidence to stand up for what he thought was right. Good job mama!” another wrote.
“Great job!!!! ALWAYS LISTEN TO MOMMY.”
Inspired people have donated over $22,000 toward Mason’s college fund.
Speaking to CNN, Nicole said that her grandfather passed away in January after contracting coronavirus.
“He was a very significant part of our life, our daily life, so Mason was impacted, they’ve seen it firsthand,” Peoples said. “So that experience really makes Mason want to wear his mask and know that it’s protecting not only him but other people, his elders and other people around him.”
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