Listen Linda Viral Video: Argumentative Mateo Gets Cupcakes From Ellen DeGeneres

If you haven’t yet seen the hysterical clip on YouTube of Matthew Beltran, better known as Mateo, arguing with his mother Linda about cupcakes, scroll down now and watch it. It is one of the cutest and most side-splitting clips to go viral this year and has already been enjoyed by nearly 5 million viewers.

The funniest thing (as I’m sure you’ll agree), about the clip, is the way Mateo keeps calling his mother, Linda, by her first name, just like an adult would. Linda Beltran explained to UberSpotlight that Mateo started using his parent’s first names to make his point in an argument, following a family trip.

During that trip, Linda explained, the Beltrans came across a young boy who was lost:

We came across a lost boy, who could not for the life of him tell us his name or parents’ names. We felt horrible, and as we handed him over to park staff we realized we’d never really told our boys what our names were — they only knew us as Mommy and Daddy.

We didn’t want them to ever be in the same situation and not know our names, so we taught them, and they quickly learned. This made Mateo feel a little empowered.

For the most part we are still Mommy and Daddy, but when he is serious and wants to make sure we are paying attention, we quickly become Linda and Kenneth.

Some people may think that Mateo’s calling his mother by her first name is cheeky or even rude, let alone arguing and talking back to her. But Linda disagrees, and explained why she thinks it important for young children to find their own voice:

In an effort to raise independent young adults, we let our children have a voice. I’m a new parent and I’m learning as much from my kids as they are learning from me. The arguing started way before Mateo could talk — he would let us know he didn’t like certain shoes or clothes with his baby blabber. I love seeing a little more of their personalities as they grow.

Mateo has his own spunk and is becoming his own little person. I love that about him. The boys know when mom is serious and when they can engage in some healthy debate. In an effort to raise my kids with a voice, I pick my battles and sometimes let them feel like they’ve won…or at least give them the chance to try.

Whether or not you agree with Linda’s parenting strategy, you have to agree that her son Mateo is just adorable, and seems to have learned a thing or two about arguing from his mother and father.

Mateo also caught the eye of Ellen DeGeneres who invited him and Linda on her show on Tuesday. Linda was presented with a check from Shutterfly for $10,000 and Mateo got to munch on as many cupcakes as he could handle.

Here’s the hysterical ‘listen Linda’ viral clip, for your enjoyment: