Parents Are Doing The 'Last Uppy' TikTok Trend—And There Might Be Tears

A new TikTok trend for parents, the last uppy trend, is tugging at the heartstrings of moms and dads everywhere. The idea is simple enough: when is the last time you pick up your child and hold them in your arms? Well, parents are scooping up their tweens and teens for one last holding sesh, and it's become an emotional experience, not only for parents but for the kiddos, too.

Hundreds of thousands of posts have amassed on TikTok, with moms and dads picking up their tweens and teens for the ultimate hug. For some, it's something that evokes belly laughs, and for others, it's a moment where memories come rushing back and bring tears to the eyes of both participants: parents remember those younger years toting kiddos around in their arms, and even the kids are moved by the feeling of being in their parents' embrace. I'm getting teary-eyed just thinking about it.

The trend went viral in late 2025 and is continuing to garner attention. It started when father Eric Justice Guzman asked his almost 15-year-old son to let him hold him one last time, and it got hundreds of thousands of views and shares. More than 60 percent of millennial TikTok users are parents, and these users frequently engage in, consume, or react to trends like the last uppy trend.

Truthfully, I'd love to try it with my own almost-13-year-old, but I'm terrified I'd throw out my back (and then we'd have a whole new TikTok challenge). But for mamas who are in toddler-dom, looking down at outstretched arms for the umpteenth time while a little one chimes, "Up! Up!", hold your babies. I mean, really hold those tiny people. Wrap your arms around them and feel the warmth of their little bodies against yours and smell their hair, because one day you're holding your child, and one day, you just aren't anymore. The cliche is true: time flies, and it's over before you know it.