A Las Vegas first grader is making headlines not only for his incredibly adorable school picture, but also for his insistence on how important it was that he listen to his mom.
“I said ‘No thank you, my mom told me I can’t,'” Mason explained when asked what he did why the school photographer told him he could take his mask off.
Mason’s mom, Nicole Peoples, told CNN that in the beginning of the school year she talked to her son about the importance of wearing a mask.
“We had a conversation at the beginning of school about the importance of safety and how germs can be spread if he didn’t have his mask on, so he makes sure to have it on at all times,” she said.
The family already knew the seriousness of COVID-19, Peoples’ grandfather died in January from it, but she still wanted to make sure her three sons, who attend a school where masks are required, understood they needed to keep their masks on.
But when it came time for school pictures, Mason was faced with a dilemma. His mother told him he could only take his mask off to eat, and yet another adult was telling him it was okay to take it off for a quick picture.
Not wanting to disobey his mom, he listened to her and kept his mask on.
When telling Peoples’ about picture, Mason said he told the photographer, “No Thank you, I always listen to my mom!” after he was asked several times if he wanted to take his mask off.
Proud of her son for listening to her, but perhaps wishing she added an exception to the rule, Peoples’ shared Mason’s school picture along with the sweet conversation he had with the photographer on Facebook..
It went viral.
“He’s very proud [and] he loves to show me how he’s followed the rules so that’s why he was so excited to come home and tell me about that picture story,” Peoples said.
After sharing the image on Facebook, many reached out asking if they could give something to Mason or donate to a college fund, so Peoples set up a GoFundMe which she said will be used for college.
So far more than $23,000 has been raised.
Way to go Mason! You certainly made your mom proud, and your school picture will be one to remember.
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