A conversation between a mother and her six-year-old daughter about future romantic partners has gone viral on TikTok, racking up hundreds of thousands of views. The clip captures a moment that caught many people completely off guard, all thanks to the bold confidence of a little girl named Ruby. Her mother, Abbie, shared the video herself, probably not expecting it to blow up the way it did. What started as a lighthearted question quickly turned into one of the most entertaining parent-child exchanges the internet has seen in a while.
In the video, Abbie asks her daughter whether she would like to date a doctor when she grows up. Ruby, arms firmly crossed, gives a flat “No.” When her mom follows up by asking who she would want to be with, the little girl delivers her answer without hesitation. “A gangster,” Ruby says, sending the comment section into a frenzy of laughter. Her stunned mother tries to reason with her, pointing out that it probably is not the best idea, but Ruby has a response ready for that too.
“My life, my choice,” the six-year-old fires back, leaving Abbie with absolutely nothing left to say. The phrase, delivered with remarkable composure for someone who is barely old enough for first grade, became the highlight of the entire clip. Abbie described raising Ruby with a humorous caption referencing the notorious Kray twins, the infamous criminal brothers from the East End of London. The joke resonated with viewers who recognized the reference immediately.
@app97xxx #fyp #kidstiktok #gangster #kray ♬ original sound – Abbie
According to the London Museum, Ronnie and Reggie Kray were involved in racketeering and ran nightclubs, and as their reputation grew, they rubbed shoulders with celebrities and were even photographed by fashion photographer David Bailey. The twins were convicted of murder in 1969 and sentenced to life in prison, yet somehow became unlikely celebrities of their era. Abbie’s quip about raising her own “Ruby Kray” was clearly meant in the most affectionate, tongue-in-cheek way possible. It perfectly captured that universal parenting experience of realizing your child has a personality that is entirely their own.
This charming TikTok moment arrives at a time when parents everywhere are thinking deeply about the values they hope to instill in their children. According to a January 2023 report by the Pew Research Center, the number one priority for parents is raising honest and ethical kids, with 66 percent of those surveyed calling it extremely important. About 48 percent placed equal importance on raising hardworking adults, while roughly 40 percent stressed the value of accepting others and helping people in need. Ambition, interestingly, was considered extremely important by only 27 percent of parents, though the vast majority rated each of these traits as at least very important somewhere between 65 and 94 percent of the time.
TikTok has become one of the most popular platforms for parents to share candid, funny, and relatable moments from family life. Clips of children saying surprisingly self-assured or unexpected things tend to perform especially well, because they tap into something parents universally recognize. Kids at this age are developing their sense of autonomy and identity, and moments like Ruby’s response are a natural part of that process. Child development experts often point out that toddlers and young children experimenting with independence, even in playful or absurd ways, is actually a healthy sign of growing self-awareness. The real Kray twins, for context, built one of the most feared criminal organizations in 1960s Britain before their empire collapsed entirely with their arrests and convictions, so it is safe to say Abbie is not actually worried about Ruby’s career path.
What did you think of Ruby’s legendary response to her mom — share your thoughts in the comments!
