This video captures a funny and completely spontaneous family moment in our kitchen at home in Windhoek, Namibia.

It all started while I, Lawren Nel (28), was feeding our baby girl, Lia (6 months), some mashed avocado as part of her early solids journey. She was enjoying herself but, as babies do, ended up covered in avocado from head to toe. Since there was a bit left over and I’d heard avocado is great for hair and scalp, I decided to just go with the mess and gently spread the rest on her head.

Just then, our two-year-old son, Schalk, walked into the kitchen. The second he saw his sister with avocado on her head, he started gagging! This wasn’t new to us. Schalk has always had an extra-sensitive gag reflex. He’s gotten nauseous before from things as innocent as seeing chocolate mousse, tasting porridge served a different way, or even hearing someone else gag. So when I saw his reaction, I quickly chased him out of the kitchen to avoid an actual mess, then called my husband, Francois (39), to come see what was happening.

That’s when I decided to start recording on my iPhone (the video was later edited on CapCut). I wanted to capture the moment because I knew how funny and true-to-life it was for our family. The kind of chaos only toddlers and babies can create. As the video continues, my husband walks in to check on Schalk, who’s standing outside the kitchen still gagging but also too curious to look away. When he looks at his baby sister again, he actually throws up but then still wants to keep watching!

It might sound gross to some, but for us, it was pure comedy - the kind of real, unscripted parenting moment that makes you laugh and shake your head at the same time. We know our son and his over-the-top reactions well, and it was all filmed in good humor. Everyone was perfectly fine afterward, and it’s become one of those family stories we’ll keep laughing about for years.

The video was originally posted on my personal Instagram page, @lawrennel, where I share everyday family and lifestyle moments, the beautiful, funny, and unfiltered side of parenting small children.