Screenshot/Photo courtesy of Instagram/Charlise Freeman
A mother has gone viral after she surprised her son with priceless gifts for his 16th birthday.
Charlise Freeman shared a video with her followers on Instagram as she gifted her teen son, Taurean, with three homes and $10,000 in cash for his birthday.
“He had no idea what was in store,” Freeman captioned one post. “I was about to give him the foundation to set him up for success!!!!”
In a follow-up post, Freeman opened up about the struggles of raising young Black men as single mothers. However, she wanted to ensure that both of her sons were on the right path toward success.
“My 2 boys are my world, and I would do anything for them,” she wrote in the heartfelt caption.
She added, “I understand first hand how hard it is for a single mother to be raising young black men in today’s world.”
Freeman noted that she and her son have a close relationship, and they often have conversations about him taking care of his little brother in her absence. She said the 16-year-old shared his career interests with her in hopes of delving into real estate or becoming a chef.
“During our many conversations, he always says, mom, I want to get into real estate and be a chef,” Freeman explained. “
After applying to a business and chef program, Freeman said her son was “hurt” after learning he wasn’t accepted into the programs.
“I just told him it would be ok we will go another route because MOMMY already had some things in the works, but I couldn’t tell him what it was because I was saving it for the right moment….His 16th birthday just happened to be that moment,” Freeman said.
Freeman knew her son’s birthday celebration was the perfect “moment” for him to invest in his future.
“When I presented him with those gifts, it was to let him know and show him that no matter what doors don’t open for you, if you continue to push forward– the right one will open.”
“All the hard work & dedication I put into working & making things happen for my kids I want to pay off for them,” she said in the emotional post.
Freeman said she’s excited to partner with her son and witness all of the new ideas he will have.
“I want him to be able to pass things down,” she continued. “This process is going to be fun because I get to work with my son on something that is really dear to him and see what ideas he has!”