In a world where technology often reigns supreme, two sisters from St. Thomas, Ont., are proving that good old-fashioned outdoor play still has its charm. When Lillie, 11, and Harper, 10, O’Reilly’s mom took away their mobile phones for the day on Good Friday, the girls were left with no choice but to venture outside and entertain themselves.
What started as a simple idea turned into a viral sensation. The sisters noticed a large puddle across the street from their house and decided to create a sign that read “Splash us.” Standing in front of the puddle, they eagerly waited for passing vehicles to give them a good soaking. The response was overwhelming, with cars not only splashing them once but even going around the block for a second round of fun.
Impressed by the playful antics of her daughters, their mom, Taylor Brooks, captured the moment on video and posted it on TikTok with the caption “Remember when kids played outside?” The video quickly went viral, amassing over 10 million views and thousands of comments from viewers who were captivated by the sisters’ carefree spirit.
Brooks, who never expected the post to garner so much attention, believes that the nostalgia of outdoor play resonated with many grownups who grew up in a time before smartphones and tablets dominated children’s free time. She encourages other parents to let their kids be bored every now and then, as it can spark their creativity and lead to innovative ways of having fun without technology.
The comments on the video echoed this sentiment, with many viewers reminiscing about their own childhood adventures and praising the O’Reilly sisters for their playful attitude. Lillie and Harper, who have learned that screen time isn’t always necessary for a good time, are already planning their next outdoor escapade.
See also Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s tough Bronx persona is under fresh scrutiny with a resurfaced childhood nickname from her suburban upstate New York upbringing casting doubt on that publicly portrayed image. The progressive champion’s latest spat with President Donald Trump over the Iran strikes again called into question her true upbringing when she declared on X she was a “Bronx girl" to make her a point against the president. The 35-year-old congresswoman wrote in part on X: "I’m a Bronx girl. You should know that we can eat Queens boys for breakfast. Respectfully," she said, referring to the president’s upbringing in Queens as she called for his impeachment over his decision to bypass Congress in authorizing U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Ocasio-Cortez was born in the Bronx but moved to Yorktown – which is nearly an hour outside New York City -- when she was 5 years old and went on to attend Yorktown High School where she graduated in 2007. She was considered an accomplished student there and well thought of by teacher Michael Blueglass, according to a 2018 report by local media outlet Halston Media News. “There, known by students and staff as ‘Sandy,’ she was a member of the Science Research Program taught by Michael Blueglass," the report states. “She was amazing," Blueglass said, per the report. “Aside from her winning one of the top spots and going to the [Intel International Science and Engineering Fair], she was just one of the most amazing presenters in all of the years I've been at Yorktown. Her ability to take complex information and explain it to all different levels of people was fantastic." After high school, Ocasio-Cortez attended Boston University, where she majored in economics and international relations, per the report. Ocasio-Cortez’s “Sandy" nickname — which carries a more suburban and preppy tone — appears to undercut her politically crafted image as a tough, inner-city fighter, one she has portrayed since her famous 2018 congressional campaign where she eventually ousted former 10-terms Congressman Joe Crowley. New York GOP Assemblyman Matt Slater, who now represents Yorktown, added to the scrutiny of Ocasio-Cortez’s persona in the wake of her brash with Trump and released images of Ocasio-Cortez from his high school yearbook. He claimed he and the rising Democratic star attended Yorktown High School at the same time when she was a freshman and he was a senior. "I saw the attacks on the president and her [Ocasio-Cortez] claims that she's a big, tough Bronx girl," said Slater. "To sit there and say that she’s a Bronx girl is just patently ridiculous." "Everybody in our community knows this is just a bold-face lie," said Slater on "Fox & Friends First" last week. "She grew up in Yorktown, she was on my track team." "She's lying about her background, she's lying about her upbringing," Slater claimed. Slater’s post sent social media ablaze and prompted Ocasio-Cortez to respond after an image if her family’s home was posted online. “I’m proud of how I grew up and talk about it all the time," Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X Friday responding to the post. “My mom cleaned houses and I helped. We cleaned tutors’ homes in exchange for SAT prep." “Growing up between the Bronx and Yorktown deeply shaped my views of inequality & it’s a big reason I believe the things I do today!"
As they reflect on their experience, the girls have discovered that rainy days don’t have to be spent cooped up indoors with a phone in hand. They have embraced the joy of simple outdoor play and look forward to more unplugged adventures in the future. With a little bit of boredom and a lot of imagination, the possibilities for fun are endless.
