A video of a dog sitting in the front seat of a car after the school run has gone viral on social media, earning more than 630,000 views.
The Instagram clip shows a black-and-white mixed‑breed dog sitting upright in the passenger seat, wide-eyed and looking slightly bewildered.
Text layered over the video explains: “the moment of silence and emotional support ride home after the morning storm of kids drop off.”
As the video continues, the dog reaches toward her owner from San Diego, California, gently placing a paw over her arm.
The small gesture struck a chord with viewers, racking up more than 45,000 likes and thousands of comments from parents who said the moment perfectly captured post‑school‑run exhaustion.
Users were quick to share what they believed the dog was thinking.
“Today drained me, hold my hand,” said one user.
Another wrote: “We made it.”
“I think the dogs just happy she finally got to be alone with mommy and have her all to themselves,” said a third.
A fourth wrote: “”[I don’t know] how you do this every day.”
The reactions mirror the findings of a survey of 1,000 parents with school‑aged children commissioned by Siemens Home Appliances, which found that mornings are often the most-stressful part of the day.
Parents said chaos commonly peaks when children refuse breakfast, struggle to get dressed or cannot find essential items. Fifteen percent cited missing shoes as a key stress trigger, while 21 percent said getting children into school uniforms is often the most-challenging moment.
The research also revealed that 42 percent of parents feel a sense of relief once their children are safely through the school gates. However, many then realize they have skipped breakfast or missed their morning cup of tea. According to the survey, overall parental stress peaks at 7:16 a.m.
How To Help Your Dog Love Children
The American Kennel Club says the bond between children and dogs can be deeply rewarding but requires time, training and supervision. Many canines can feel uneasy around kids, particularly during loud or unpredictable moments like busy mornings.
The AKC advises adults to manage interactions carefully, provide dogs with safe spaces when supervision is not possible and teach children appropriate behavior.
Building positive associations through rewards, gradual exposure and handling exercises can help canines feel more comfortable around children and reduce stress.
In moments like the one captured in the viral video, that bond can also work in reverse, with dogs offering quiet comfort when parents finally slow down.
Newsweek reached out to @mishlove for comment via Instagram. We could not verify the details of the case.