"'Unprecedented pain finally sent her home from work': Working mom finds seaweed soup made by her fourth-grade son"

Mother Comes Home After a Fever of 40°C

Her Fourth-Grade Son Leaves Seaweed Soup and a Handwritten Note

A story about an elementary school boy who made seaweed soup for his mother, who had the flu, is quietly moving people online.

On October 13, a post by a working mother identified as A appeared on Threads and other social media platforms and online communities. She wrote that her fever had reached 40°C because of the flu, so she hurriedly gave her son bread for breakfast before heading to work. Her condition did not improve, so she took a half-day off and returned home to find that her fourth-grade son had made seaweed soup using a meal kit and left her a letter. A photo she shared showed a note on the pot lid that read, "Mom, heat this up and eat it. It's one serving," with seaweed soup inside the pot.

A wrote, "I leave for work early every day, and my child has to eat the meal I've prepared, clear up afterward, and get ready for school alone, so he's always busy," adding, "It was the day I realized that, although I thought I was the only one giving love, I was receiving it back many times over."

The post received 850 comments. Online users praised the boy, saying, "What a lovely heart that child has," and "I can't even imagine how much love his mother must have raised him with."

On October 14, A posted a note of thanks, saying, "I didn't expect a post I wrote like a diary entry, because I wanted to remember what my son did for me instead of taking it for granted, to spread this far." She added, "I showed him a few comments and said, 'Mom's diary is full of praise and words of encouragement for you,' and he smiled brightly and was so happy."

On September 11, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency issued an influenza epidemic advisory for the 2026-2027 season. In week 39 (September 20-26), the rate of patients with suspected influenza at outpatient clinics was 33.0 per 1,000 outpatients, an increase of about 9 from three weeks earlier.

Influenza, commonly called the flu, is a viral respiratory infection that can cause a sudden fever, along with coughing, a sore throat, headaches, and muscle aches. Adults aged 65 and older, people with chronic conditions, and those with weakened immune systems face a higher risk of complications such as pneumonia, making vaccination and early medical care important. People should make preventive measures part of their daily routine, including washing their hands, practicing proper cough etiquette, and wearing a mask in crowded places. Anyone with suspected symptoms should seek medical care.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.