Surveillance video shows desperate mother in station carrying her daughter dressed in a police costume. Officers who helped toddler when she was involved in car accident two years ago left lasting impression. — SCMP
The mother of a three-year-old girl in China with a police fixation who refused to take off a law enforcement costume was forced to seek help from real officers to rid her daughter of her obsession.
A surveillance video clip featuring the little girl shared on mainland social media earlier this month received 4 million views on Douyin.
It shows the toddler’s desperate mother carrying her in-costume daughter into a police station in central China’s Hubei province on July 3.
The unidentified woman begged the officers at the front desk to persuade her daughter to take off a police costume and white gloves she insists on wearing at all times.
She said her daughter was in a car accident two years ago and was hugged and comforted by a policeman afterwards, which made a lasting impression on the girl.
A dream of becoming a policeman when she grew up had been planted in her head, and she wore the costume uniform every day, refusing to take it off despite a rash appearing on her back, the mother said.
She also refused to grow her hair long or wear girls’ sandals, in the belief that all police officers were male, like the one who had rescued her after the car accident.
Her mother said she took her daughter to the police station so she could see that “there are many aunties who are police officers”.
A policewoman on duty at the station patiently told the girl that women and men can be police officers and that they only wear police uniforms when they are at work.
“When we are off duty, we dress ourselves up like your mum,” the officer told the girl.
Chinese news outlet Star Video reported that the girl let go of her obsession with the uniform after they left the police station.
Mainland social media has been charmed by the girl’s childish fixation.
“She is only three, and she already has a goal,” said one person.
“She was probably seeking a sense of security after the car accident. The policeman was the light she saw at a time of danger,” commented another.
“What her mother did was nice, persuading her while also protecting her dream,” said a third online observer.
Children showing admiration for their “heroes” are a constant source of human interest stories on mainland social media.
In April, another three-year-old girl from central China gave hugs and snacks to a group of firefighters who were resting by the roadside after completing a job.
On Douyin, a six-year-old girl from eastern China’s Jiangsu province attracted 1 million followers with her “professional” doctor games.
The girl, who wants to be a doctor when she grows up, had been playing doctor since she was a toddler, looking after her “patients” who were played by other family members, her pet corgi and a cat. – South China Morning Post
