Rhianna Benson
One Los Angeles mum believed the devastating wildfires across California posed the perfect opportunity to teach her children an 'important lesson'.
Sadly, the revelation has been much to the dismay of millions of internet users, who have slammed the mother-of-two for 'toxic positivity'.
24 lives have been lost as the result of a number of wildfires which ripped their way through California last week.
Advert
The initial LA blaze erupted on 7 January before branching out to a further eight - one of which investigating officers now believe was caused by arson after a man was arrested.
The Palisades and Eaton fires are believed to have caused the most fatalities, having tragically taken 16 lives, - though these numbers are expected to rise.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony C Marrone gave press an update today that 70 additional water trucks have now been dispatched to fire ravaged or at risk areas to prepare for the upcoming gusts of winds. As such, many locals have been returning to the land where the homes once stood, many of which have been totally destroyed.
Advert
As we say, however, one LA mum has used the tragic events to give her children a vital 'learning' moment.
The California mother - who wished to remain anonymous - was approached by news anchor Katy Tur earlier this week during some live coverage for MSNBC.
.png)
Along with her two kids - a nine-year-old son and a six-year-old daughter - she was seen surveying some of the damage inflicted by the fires onto their Pacific Palisades home, the vast majority of which had been burned to the ground.
Advert
Speaking to viewers, the mum was asked why she'd brought her family back to the demolished site, replying: "I believe that life is about learning and about having experiences that make you more human."
Becoming increasingly upset, she went on to explain: "I was telling my kids, 'This isn't a bad thing. This is just, like, a potent thing. This is something that makes us bigger humans'."
The teaching hasn't gone too well with many social media users, however, with some claiming that this week's disaster was an inappropriate opportunity for a life lesson.
Taking to social media, one spectator hit out: "WTF...... I disagree with this".
Advert
Another accused the mum of 'toxic positivity', adding: "This is a moment to discuss empathy, compassion and what it means to help others by finding ways to support a community by work and donations".
A third penned a lengthy criticism, writing: "Ok but the mass amounts of wildlife lost to this tragedy is heartbreaking. I could never spin this into a positive.
They went on: "Yes the humans who survived can rebuild. But lives were lost. Natural elements take a long time to regrow. All those trees took decades to mature. Many of us won't be around to see the new ones planted mature because that takes too long. This whole thing is heartbreaking to anyone who looks at it as a whole and not just tunnel vision on their own situation."
Advert
Others, however, have praised the unnamed mother for her approach to the heartbreaking situation.
After MSNBC shared a clip of the interaction on TikTok, one wrote: "The emotional intelligence of that woman is on another level. May this ability to see a new perspective find me."
"God bless that woman her heart is pure and full of empathy," a second added.
A third went on to gush: "I can’t even comprehend experiencing the pain that mom feels. Instant tears as soon as I saw her with her kids. I hope she knows what an incredible mom she is."