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Surprise Return to Cuba Sparks Criticism: "Might as Well Have Stayed Away"

Monday, June 9, 2025 by Elizabeth Alvarado

The emotional homecoming of a Cuban woman after over two years apart from her mother has ignited a wave of commentary on social media, not due to the expected tears or warm embrace. Instead, the surprisingly subdued reaction from her mother has caught many off guard, sparking a lively debate among TikTok users.

The moment was captured in a video shared by user @lisandra_dundu on the popular platform, showing the exact instance the young woman arrives at her home in Cuba to reunite with her mother after a two-and-a-half-year absence. Contrary to the overflowing emotion typical of such viral reunions, her mother displayed a calm demeanor, lacking visible joy or surprise.

"It took me two years and six months to hug you again, mom," the young woman wrote in the video's description, underscoring the lengthy period spent apart from her family. The post quickly attracted numerous comments, many of which were ironically critical of the mother's reaction. "My dog gets more excited when I come home," one user quipped. Others were more blunt: "She didn't even open the door," "the lady wasn't too happy," and "I'd turn right around and never come back."

Despite the seemingly cold reaction, some users defended the mother, suggesting not everyone expresses emotions openly or that perhaps she was caught off guard and didn't know how to respond at that moment.

These kinds of videos often capture public interest by highlighting the emotional depth of reunions between Cuban migrants and their loved ones, set against a backdrop of prolonged family separations due to migration. In this instance, however, it is the lack of emotion that has stirred conversation.

Understanding Emotional Reactions in Family Reunions

Why did the mother's reaction cause such a stir on social media?

The mother's subdued reaction was unexpected in a scenario where emotional reunions are common, leading to surprise and debate among viewers.

How did some users defend the mother's reaction?

Some users argued that not everyone displays their emotions in an expressive way, or that she might have been caught off guard by the surprise visit.

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