Target Employee & Toddler Host Impromptu Dance Party: WATCH

MONROVIA, CA – Shopping with a toddler is no easy feat, but one Target employee helped a mom out by throwing an impromptu dance party with a young girl. Stefanie Bradbard Elliott took her 2-year-old daughter Evallyn to the Duarte Target, and the youngin' was "unusually rambunctious" on this particular trip, mom said.

Elliott thought bringing along a toy shopping cart would make Evallyn feel like a big girl and keep her busy while they shopped, but she "immediately regretted" her decision upon entering the store. Mom spent the entire trip trying to wrangle her daughter pushing the mini shopping cart, while simultaneously steering her own cart, trying to shop, and doubling back to get the tiny cart when the toddler got distracted and left it in the middle of an aisle.

"Just before this video my daughter was following me to checkout on her knees, dragging her huge shoes that she insisted on wearing. At the same time, I was telling her to stand up and giving her 'the look' that most moms have to convey they mean business," Elliott said.

The employee shown in the video opened a new lane and ushered Elliott and her daughter to it – while mom was checking out, the Target employee kept Evallyn busy, asking her questions. Like many toddlers, she started "twirling out of nowhere," so the employee asked if she was a ballerina and if she could show her how to dance.

Evallyn said yes, and to "do it like this," according to mom. Then the employee and toddler were twirling and dancing together, sans music. It was a relief for mom, to say the least. She was exhausted after a long day of work, and the impromptu dance party reminded her to relax and have some fun.

"The employee was still directing customers to different checkout lines while dancing and had such a genuine kindness about her," Elliott said. "It's hard to explain how much it means when you are just out of patience and someone steps in and does something to ease the tension, even if it's just to give you a five minute break."

Elliott told Patch she shared the video because she figured a lot of parents would relate to it, and she wanted the employee to know that she's appreciated. Soon after Elliott posted the video, the Target employee, named AJ, reached out to her via Facebook message to thank her, saying "I'm so happy to have helped in just a little way. I hope to see you guys again soon for another dance party!"

Photos and video courtesy of Stefanie Bradbard Elliott