To our dogs we are their whole world, and when we feel the same about them incredible and everlasting friendships are born.
Anthony Rogers is a homeless man who lives on the streets of the Memphis area. Throughout his life, he has gone through rough times and lots of obstacles, but he was able to overcome each of them thanks to the love his dog Bobo has given to him.
Sadly, Bobo went missing one day and it broke Anthony’s heart into a million pieces. It felt like his whole world crashed as Bobo was all he had.
Anthony did all he could in order to find his beloved Bobo. He placed flyers all over the area and begged friends to join him in the search. However, no one has seen Bobo. Anthony even contacted animal services, but to no avail.
And just when he lost hope, a police officer who stumbled upon the flyers remembered seeing a dog that resembled Bobo very much. To Anthony’s surprise, it was his four-legged best friend.
“Bobo got neutered, microchipped and vaccinated, and we found out he was heartworm negative,” Memphis Animal Services wrote. “We sent him back to Anthony with a year’s supply of heartworm prevention, a bag of dog food, and a harness, leash, collar, and ID tag. Bobo is healthy and happy.”
The video of the reunion melted millions of hearts.
“Bobo could not contain his happiness at seeing his dad again,” the shelter posted on Facebook.
Seeing the dog running towards his human with such enthusiasm only proved once again that these magnificent creatures truly are man’s best friend.
This reunion is something you don’t want to miss. Take a look at it in the video below.
Being a victim of bullying can have deep physical and emotional effect that can last beyond childhood. Sadly, it happens more often that we realize and many young children are affected by it every single day. Many parents aren’t even aware of the struggles their kids go through and only learn of that when it’s too late to act.
A 16-year-old boy named Channing Smith took his own life because he couldn’t put up with the torture he was exposed to.
His family now speaks of the day of the tragedy.
When Channing came home from his job at Burger King in Manchester, Tennessee last Sunday, he said goodnight to his parents and went straight to his bedroom.
His brother believes that it was then that Channing learned that a girl from his class posted on her Instagram and Facebook accounts explicit messages between Channing and another boy.
Channing freaked out and called some of his friends before he posted his last status writing, “I really hate how I can’t trust anyone because those I did were so fake. Bye.”
At 4 a.m that night, Channing’s father entered his son’s room as he could see the lights were still on and saw the body.
Joshua Smith, Channing’s 38-year-old brother, is outraged and sad. He says the circumstances under which his brother took his own life are due to the cyber-bullying he experienced and is now seeking justice.
However, bringing those who bullied Channing to justice isn’t easy as the city of Manchester is very hostile towards the LGBT community. According to Smith, the investigator under Coffee County District Attorney, Craig Northcott, refused ‘to touch’ the case or press criminal charges saying there was no evidence the explicit messages were ever posted online.
Smith, however, has done his own investigation and tracked down the girl who exposed his brother’s sexuality along with his private messages.
The leakage of those messages containing conversations between Channing and that other boy led to his suicide and Smith is asking for the justice to be served. That girl who hurt Channing has to be taught a lesson.
Speaking to Insider, Smith said, “We don’t want them to be brought upon murder charges or anything. They were kids, and I know they didn’t think through to the end result, that Channing would end up dead. But he did. And, you know, because someone outed him for being gay. I guess his wishes were that he could have done that in his own time.”
Smith threatened Northcott, who has expressed gay hate and racist and offensive comments about Muslims before, to start the case, in the contrary he would start the ‘biggest social media s—storm the town has ever seen,’ according to Insider.
Now, Smith is doing all in his power to raise awareness regarding cyber-bullying and hopes no other kid ever would have to go through what his brother did.
He’s organizing memorials and is spreading Channing’s story with the hashtag #JusticeForChanning but doing that is hard in a city like Manchester where most people are showing racist behavior. However, seeing his brother’s friends showing their support is the ray of light in this place of ignorance.
So far, the school Channing attended has done nothing. They even asked from the parents’ of students who wore T-shirt with the hashtag #JusticeForChanning to come pick them up or bring other clothes.
But many mothers’ of Channing’s classmates and friends are coming together and are showing their support as well.
The grieving family has held a memorial service, but they are organizing a second one in which the singer Billy Ray Cyrus will sing Channing’s favorite song, “Amazing Grace.”
Despite seeking justice, the Smith family is trying to force a new law, Channing’s Law, that would deal with cases of cyber-bullying.
Who wouldn’t want to reach more than 100 years old and still be healthy, vibrant, and ready for new challenges.
A woman named Ruth “Buttercup” Sparks turned 104 recently and she’s more than happy to share details of her exciting life. And speaking of that, she’s got a lot to say.
This elderly lady isn’t just sweet and loving, but very brave too. She served in the U.S Navy when she was young and took part in the WWII. Actually, she’s one of the last living female veterans that was part of the war and is now spending her days in San Antonio, Texas where she resides.
Ruth came to America with her family back in 1926 when she was just 11 years old. They moved here from Denmark and lived in New York. In 1945 she joined the Navy. When she recalls those times of her life, she remembers she was part of the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES).
“I was the second class of WAVES,” she says.
In the Navy, Ruth worked as a secretary and a mechanic and once the war came to an end, she asked to be transferred to Corpus Christi. There, Ruth met her husband and they lived happily ever after in their hometown where she still lives.
She’s charming and lovable and we enjoy hearing her stories.
Being a mom is one of the best things a woman can experience. But with the little bundle of joy come greater responsibilities and most moms find themselves torn between a bunch of commitments. They not only have to be there for the baby, but they also have to make sure the house is in perfect order. Above all, most of them have regular jobs, too.
Their husbands on the other hand believe that the moms are the ones who should really take care of the children and they don’t do much to facilitate the process of bringing a child.
A woman and a mother named Celeste Erlsch, 38, has spoken of the struggles and the importance of the role of the daddy figure in the life of the children. Her post under the blog she runs, The Ultimate Mom Challenge, has recently gone viral.
She wrote an open letter to her husband, begging him to help with the upbringing of their two kids. Needless to say, many moms felt like she was speaking in their behalf too. Once shared on the Facebook page “Breastfeeding Mama Talk,” the post has been seen and shared by millions of women and mothers.
Celeste’s Open Letter
“Dear Husband,
I. Need. More. Help.
Last night was hard for you. I asked you to watch the baby so I could go to bed early. The baby was crying. Wailing, really. I could hear him from upstairs and my stomach knotted from the sound, wondering if I should come down there and relieve you or just shut the door so I could get some desperately needed sleep. I chose the latter.
You came into the room 20 minutes later, with the baby still frantically crying. You placed the baby in the bassinet and gently pushed the bassinet just a few inches closer to my side of the bed, a clear gesture that you were done watching him.
I wanted to scream at you. I wanted to launch an epic fight that very moment. I had been watching the baby and the toddler all damn day. I was going to be waking up with the baby to feed him all damn night. The least you could do is hold him for a couple of hours in the evening so I can attempt to sleep.
Just a few hours of precious sleep. Is that too much to ask?
I know we both watched our parents fulfill the typical mother-father roles growing up. Both our mothers were the primary caretakers and our fathers were relatively hands–off. They were excellent dads, but they weren’t expected to spend a significant amount of time changing diapers, feeding, caring, and tending to the kids. Our mothers were the superwomen who maintained the family dynamics. Cooking, cleaning, and raising the children. Any help from dad was welcome but unexpected.
I see us falling into these family dynamics more and more each day. My responsibility to feed the family, keep the house clean, and take care of the kids is assumed, even as I return to work. I blame myself for most of it too. I have set the precedent that I can do it. And in truth, I want to. No offense, but I’m not sure I want to know what a week’s worth of dinner would look like with you in charge.
I also see my friends and other moms doing it all, and doing it well. I know you see it, too. If they can manage it, and if our mothers did it so well for us, why can’t I?
I don’t know.
Maybe our friends are playing the part in public and secretly struggling. Maybe our moms suffered in silence for years and now, thirty years later, they simply don’t remember how hard it really was. Or maybe, and this is something I berate myself over every single day, I’m just not as qualified for the job as everyone else. And as much as I cringe just thinking it, I’m going to say it: I need more help.
Part of me feels like a failure for even asking. I mean, you do help. You are an amazing father, and you do a great job with the kids. And besides, this should come easy to me, right? Motherly instincts, no?
But I’m human, and I’m running on five hours of sleep and tired as hell. I need you. In the morning, I need you to get our toddler ready so I can care for the baby and make everyone’s lunches and drink a cup of coffee. And no, getting the toddler ready does not mean plopping him in front of the TV. It means making sure he went potty, giving him some breakfast, seeing if he wants water, and packing his bag for school.
At night, I need an hour to decompress in bed knowing our toddler is asleep in his room and the baby is in your care. I know it’s hard to listen to the baby cry. Believe me, I know. But if I can watch and pacify the baby for the majority of the day, you can do it for an hour or two at night. Please. I need you.
On weekends, I need more breaks. Times where I can get out of the house by myself and feel like an individual. Even if it’s just a walk around the block or a trip to the grocery store. And some days when I’ve scheduled swim class and play dates, and it seems like I’ve got it all under control, I need you to offer to lend me a hand. Or suggest I go lay down during the kids’ naptime. Or start putting away the dishes without me suggesting it. I need you.
Lastly, I need to hear you’re grateful for all I do. I want to know that you notice the laundry is done and a nice dinner has been prepared. I want to know you appreciate that I breastfeed at all hours and pump when I’m at work when it would be easier for me to formula feed. I hope you notice that I never ask you to stay home from your networking events and sport activities. As the mom, it’s assumed I’ll be home all the time and always available to care for the kids while you’re out and I feed that assumption by, well, being home all the time. I know it’s not how our parents did it, and I hate even asking. I wish I could do it all and make it look effortless. And I wish I didn’t need kudos for doing things most people expect from a mom. But I’m waving a white flag and admitting I’m only human. I’m telling you how much I need you, and if I keep going at the pace I’ve been on, I will break. And that would hurt you, the kids, and our family.
Because, let’s face it: you need me, too.”
The Second Shift
Nowadays, the media and the society try to convince us of the equal treatment of men and women in the workplace, but no one speaks of their role in the house.
According to a survey conducted by the The Nation, after they get home from work, more than half of all the women will do housework. When it comes to men, the numbers are just 20%.
Whereas women spend additional three hours a day cleaning the house, doing laundry, and other housework, men spend the same amount of time taking a nap or enjoying doing something they like.
Stop Nagging!
Whenever the woman feel like she needs any sort of assistance around the place or the kids, most husbands interpret that as nagging. This is why many wives don’t ask for help and take all the responsibilities on themselves.
Communication Is The Key
Although this is something you’ve heard many times before, communication really is what every couple needs more of.
It’s always nice to be straightforward when it comes to the expectations you have from the spouse, no matter if you have children or not.
Husbands and daddies should be more considerate and offer a helping hand even when they are not asked to. They should be aware of the responsibilities that come with marriage and take equal part in having them done.
Speaking to Bored Panda, Celeste says, “My husband and I talk about this topic fairly regularly, he knows my concerns and we work on that daily. The reason I wrote an open letter is that I know lots of women facing similar issues. I discuss this topic all the time with my friends. I wanted to put it out there to start a larger discussion. I wanted women to feel encouraged to ask for help. I wanted husbands to know we need more help.”
Surprisingly, more and more dads are stay-at-home fathers. Based on information released by the U.S Census Bureau, in the last six years the number of dads who don’t work but take care of their children reached 140,000.
Researchers say that most fathers who get involved in taking care of their kids work less hours compared to other dads and they posses certain traits such as higher self-esteem as well as lover level of depression.
Some Great News For Moms Over Here!
M.D., FAAP Ben Siegel, professor of pediatrics and psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine and chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics says that “more men are organizing their lives around their families.” He also says that dads taking care of their children is not just a trend, and that’s really encouraging.
The Bottom Line
Roland Warren, president of the National Fatherhood Initiative (NFI) which is a non-profit organization that promotes responsible fatherhood says that what many fathers need is support and an ‘upgrade.’
Dear wives and mothers, encourage your partners to be part of their children’s lives and whenever they show they are a wonderful husband or father let them know that. Appreciate what they do in order to receive more in return.
This sad story is a reminder that the harmless decisions we take in life can sometimes turn into fatal ones.
A girl named Bethany Benson and her boyfriend were on a road trip when Bethany felt sleepy and tried finding a comfortable position. At one moment, she decided to tilt the seat and stretch her legs on the dashboard. Moments later, she felt asleep.
Little did she know that taking that position will make her life a living hell.
When Bethany opened her eyes, she was no longer in the car, but in a hospital bed, surrounded with a bunch of doctors who were fighting for her life.
During the trip, a small car that was driving ahead of Bethany’s boyfriend’s car crashed into a motorcycle, killing the motorcyclist. Behind the car, there was a huge truck. Witnessing the accident, the truck driver hit the breaks, which caused for Bethany’s boyfriend to hit into the truck with a high speed.
At the time of the crash, Bethany was sound asleep and doctors say that the combination of sleeping and trauma caused her to block out what had happened.
The couple’s car was damaged to the extent that it led experts wondering how it was even possible for Bethany and her boyfriend to survive.
He ended up with 100 stitches on the face and a scar, but Bethany’s condition was extremely severe. She experienced excruciating pain and the chances of her survival were slim.
As the airbag opened, it caused Bethany’s feet to hit her face. She ended up with a broken cheekbone and nose, broken eye socket, broken jaw, compressed feet and more.
Sadly, she also had a brain bleeding which turned to be more serious than what doctors initially thought.
It caused a permanent brain damage and Bethany turned into a completely different person. She lost the ability to hear and speak French. She also experienced difficulties using English and communicate with those around her.
The handful of pills she takes every single day only helps her condition get a bit milder.
Years passed by and Bethany is still struggling to function properly. Her mother says that she acts like a teenager and throws tantrums for no reason. She even writes messages in which she offends and threatens people but later completely forgets ever doing that.
Life can take a different turn in an instant. For Bethany, it was just one simple decision that turned it upside down forever.
If she hadn’t put her legs on the dashboard maybe she would have suffered tiny injuries only.
Let her story be a lesson for the rest of us to never stretch our feet while in a driving vehicle and to always have our seat-belt on.
Take a look at Bethany’s full story in the video below.
Being considerate and empathetic are traits that many people lost along the way. So, many times, instead of offering our support and kind words to those who had gone through so much in their life, we opt to avoid them and even laugh at the tragedies that struck them.
6-year-old boy named Wayne Nixon was involved in a North Carolina house fire this May and he suffered severe burns and injuries. Sadly, his older brother lost his life.
Wayne’s journey to recovery was a tough one. He had to undergo multiple surgeries and treatments, but his face is still disfigured.
Ever since he left the hospital, Wayne has been target of bullies and people who wouldn’t stop stare at him, and that crushes this boy’s heart and self-esteem.
“He comes home and cries sometimes. We come home and cry sometimes,” his grandmother, Wanda Nixon told WGHP. “I wish people would think about the person that’s up under the mask and the way it makes them feel.”
Currently, sweet Wayne is wearing a clear mask and a burn suit that helps facilitate the process of his recovery. His grandma says that many people look at him and call him names. Most of them say he’s scary.
“To me, he’s not scary. He’s this young man right here under his mask,” she said.
“He has a heart. He bleeds just like you. Stop staring,” she said. “He’s my little warrior. He’s determined. He keeps me going. I know that.”
Hopefully, after watching this video we will finally realize how our offensive comments and stares make others feel and we’ll stop being rude once and for all.
Having a child with Down Syndrome can be challenging, but once you accept the extra chromosome that God gave you as a present, you’ll learn that these children are special in many ways.
They may share similar facial features, but they are all individuals with unique likes and dislikes.
When the parents of adorable Grace Isabella Wharton learned their baby had Down Syndrome, they felt odd. Her mom, Cheryl Wharton, admits that the news made her cry for 24 hours. It wasn’t that she didn’t like her daughter, but she was aware the girl will face difficulties in life because of the negative perception the society has about people with the condition.
However, Grace, who is now 7 years old, loves the way she looks and she’s very confident in herself. She’s a model and has a very successful career. Her name is already famous in the modeling industry.
Cheryl and John are very dedicated parents who would do anything in their power to see their child thriving and having a happy and fulfilling life.
As a result, they decided to take her to a modeling photo shoot for children with disabilities one day. They believed she would have fun being photographed, but sweet Grace captured the hearts of everyone there. They knew the girl was born to be a model. She just had it in her.
Having Down Syndrome never stepped on Grace’s way to a happy childhood.
“Grace was then signed up within a very short space of time. Disney showed interest in her and she’s done work with them, CBeebies and the BBC since. She’s been really busy,” Cheryl told Daily Mail.
Currently, Grace is part of the company Zebedee Management that represents more than 300 people with different disabilities.
Including these people in all the segments of the society is a step forward to full acceptance of the differences because the differences are what make this world a better and more colorful place.
Grace isn’t doing this only for herself, but also for others who share her condition and feel marginalized. She’s a role model to many young children because the message she spreads is that if you want something badly, no one and nothing can get on your way.
This brave little girl represents the change that she wants to see in the world, and we are all so very proud of her.
So far, Grace has been part of numerous campaigns among which the diversity campaign called “Behind the Scars.”
According to her mom, during the past years, Grace experienced some health issues related to her condition and had to undergo some major surgeries, but despite that, she has never been ill.
She also experiences difficulties forming words and sounds as a result of a low muscle tone.
But none of this stops Grace from enjoying her life and making people around her happy.
Despite being a successful model, Grace is also keeping up with her school and shows amazing school performance. Her teacher, Charlotte Williams, says that little Grace has lots of friends and is sort of a celebrity among the peers.
“I am very lucky because I have had Grace in my class for two years now,” the teacher said.
The great news is that people with Down Syndrome are given more opportunities to shine and show what they can do and achieve. They are not seen as they used to, and we only hope things will go for the better with every passing day.
”It is very important for us to get the message across that she is just a little girl who happens to have Down Syndrome. It’s no big deal, she is a feisty little girl and will always just be our daughter,” Cheryl said.
‘She’s always come through everything that she was faced with. She’s our little fighter,’ Grace’s father John said.
Grace is changing the world for people with Down Syndrome one step at a time.
Her vibrant personality and cute smile are addictive. It’s not surprising that she steals the hearts of everyone who meets her.
Despite the fact that most people consider teenagers to be trouble-makers, that’s not really the case.
Many times, these kids aren’t even given the chance to prove the world wrong. Luckily, a young boy is changing the way his peers are seen by the society by doing something truly exceptional.
The story of 15-year-old Romemylion Mitchell is here to restore our faith in the younger generations.
This caring boy has noticed how his neighbors, an elderly couple living all by themselves, need help with everyday stuff such as running errands and going to the store. So, he decided to step in and be there for them whenever they need any kind of assistance.
Romemylion has known the couple his entire life and the compassion he shows for them is just fascinating.
No day passes by without him checking on them. In fact, he pays them a visit a couple of times during the day. He doesn’t go to school before he makes sure they have all they need.
Recently, Tiki Joyner Edwards, the couple’s daughter who lives far away, learned of what the teen boy is doing for her parents and she was left in disbelief as her heart melted.
Knowing that there is someone who gives them so much love and support leaves her at ease. Above all, he does all that because he loves to, and never asks for anything in return.
She just can’t believe that someone so young can be so compassionate and caring.
Feeling the need to thank him, Tiki decided to share her parent’s story on Facebook and tell the whole world how amazing their teenage neighbor is.
“He rides with Dad to the store, helps him shop and brings the groceries in.. he cuts the grass and whatever they may need.”
A little while back, the woman, Cianne, ended up in a hospital. When Romemylion heard the news, he rushed to visit her. The sight of him entering her room and giving her a tight hug of solace triggered emotions at the hospital staff and Tiki. It was as though he was hugging his own mother.
“When he saw Mom today he busted out crying and just held her tight… what a blessing and just wanted to pass on something heartwarming instead of the sad news we see and hear every day,” Tiki wrote.
Tiki hopes that what she had to share with the world will change the way people perceive teenagers as these young souls can be truly loving and caring.
Honestly, not many people would do what Romemylion does, let alone someone that young.
We hope Romemylion will inspire others to become better people.
