When a parent has to leave for deployment with the military it is never easy on the parent, but it’s exceptionally hard for the children they leave behind. When the parent finally is able to return home, the reunion between the parent and child is nothing short of remarkable, and the reunion in this video is no exception.

Some of the reunions are staged to surprise the children, and in this case, the mom got a little help from the new school mascot costume to surprise her son Jack. McKinley Elementary School in Appleton, Wisconsin, set the stage for this military mom to surprise her son in the school cafeteria.

The mascot uniform was new and she dressed up in the leopard costume and walks around the crowded lunch room giving out high fives as she makes her way towards her son. She finally gets to Jack’s table and sits down across from him.

While at the table she continues to give the kids high fives and Jack even offers her a bag of potato chips. Not being able to hold the secret in any longer, she finally takes off the head of the costume revealing her true identity.

“Mom!” yells Jack as he races around the table to get to her. He’s shocked and obviously excited to get to see his mom. The cafeteria cheers for the mother and son as they finally get to give each other a hug for the first time in months.

What a beautiful, surprise reunion that was caught on video for them, and us, to remember for years to come.