Although they appear to be tough, bullies are actually people who are so miserable and whose self-esteem is so low that they believe it will make them feel better if they hurt and harass others.
Unfortunately, bullying is present even among little children and it affects them in a very negative way. It leaves permanent damage and can even lead to the bullied people taking their own life if they feel like they can’t stand being victims any longer.
Sadly, Samantha Womble’s 5-year-old daughter experienced peer harassment on the school bus recently. Her friends called her names and made her cry. But things turned for the worse when the bus driver refused to protect her and threatened to call the police on the poor little girl.
This is what Samantha had to say regarding the incident:
“My 5-year-old had her first bullying experience on the school bus. She was called stupid and ugly over and over. Instead of an adult handling the situation, he threatened her with the police.”
The biggest issue in such situations is that the victims of bullying get the feeling that they are left to fight with the problem all by themselves. Since they don’t get the expected help, their courage decreases and they are afraid to speak up and stand for themselves.
“My daughter was then horrified and traumatized. As we drove home, we passed an officer, and she covered her head while crying scared to death,” wrote Womble.
That was such a devastating sight. Samantha knew she had to do all in her power to make her little daughter feel secure again.
“I put out a post for prayers and it didn’t go unanswered. That night officer Jonathan Luttrell and officer Blake Burress with the Booneville MS Police Department knocked on the door. They heard what had happened and brought her prizes. They made her feel comfortable and let her know they were her protectors and weren’t out to get her. That night she labeled those cops as her best friends.”
These officers’ kind act meant the world to the little girl. It changed the way she saw these people and instead of being afraid of them, she learned she could trust them, because they were there to protect her and keep her safe.
The police department even went a step further and sent officers to walk the girl to class the following day. They didn’t speak to the bullies because there was no need for that. Their presence was enough for their message to be spread.
“The next morning deputy Taylor Walker and Tyler Reese from the Prentiss County Sheriff’s Dept came to the school. Deputy Walker met her at the vehicle with a smile. He took the time to get on her level and speak with her. She walked back with the biggest smile and stuffed puppy. He held her hand and she was more than happy to have him walk her to class.”
Our faith in humanity is restored when we hear stories like this one, where people are ready to go above and beyond for someone’s well-being and happiness.
Some will argue that the members of the police forces are too harsh sometimes, but when you think about it, it’s their job to maintain public order and enforce the law and they do that the best they can.
“So often law enforcement is thrown under the bus, given horrible names, and used as a scare tactic in the wrong situations. In reality these are the people willing to put their lives on the line to protect us, and care more than we can imagine. These officers made a point to take time out and helped my sweet girl feel safe, cared for, and protected after hearing they were used as a scare tactic against her.”
Once Samantha’s post was noticed by more and more people, some of the parents whose kinds bullied her daughter and were mean to her called her to apologize. Samantha was more than happy that she made parents put some extra effort in teaching their kids distinguishing right from wrong.
What’s most, because of the kindness the police officers showed the little lady, her bullies became her friends.
Thankfully, this case of bullying had a happy ending, but sadly, that’s rarely the case.
That is why we should teach our children from very young age to never treat anyone with disrespect.
Although it looks like bullying is present among students only, it actually exists everywhere, including kindergartens and workplaces.
But if we speak up and fight against it, like Samantha did, maybe we can change things for the better for the victims who are way too afraid to admit they are being bullied.
One would think that with the advance of technology and everything that is going on around the world, humans should be wiser and finally learn to get their free time around working on themselves instead of sticking their nose into other peoples’ business.
Sadly, many years should pass until we become more compassionate and stop judging people based on their physical appearance.
The following story teaches us how we should all stand for those who are bullied because of the way they look. It was shared by a wedding dress shop owner.
Namely, one day, a woman was trying a wedding gown in her shop and was looking forward to find the perfect one. But her dreams and hopes were crushed after two other customers, a mother and a daughter, commented her looks and spoke some very rude words.
Looking at the lady who was trying the dress, the daughter said, “I don’t understand how someone like that can marry, I thought whales did not mate.”
The shop owner could simply ignore what these two women said, but she decided to put an end to their unacceptable behavior even though it could mean her losing a big commission.
The crying bride-to-be felt embarrassed and tried leaving the shop but the owner didn’t let her do that. She told her she should stay and continue looking for the perfect gown for her wedding day.
She then turned to the rude mother and daughter and said, “I don’t understand how you think you can get a dress from my store.”
The daughter showed her arrogance once again saying, “Really? Then you’re wrong. In fact, we’re here to pick it up because it has already been paid.”
But then, the owner went behind the counter, wrote something, and gave it to the arrogant woman.
The mother and the daughter couldn’t believe they were getting a full refund but were staying without their dress.
“You can look for another store to buy you wedding dress, because I just voided your order and I refuse to help you. Now, leave my store before I call the police”
She was now left without her dream gown just a week before her wedding. It’s kind of sad, but at least that will teach her a lesson for life.
The mother then said, “We had ordered this dress with special details for her wedding. How can you void the order?”
But the owner had the perfect reply. “ I voided the order because I don’t want any bride to feel like they don’t deserve to marry because of their looks. Apparently, both of you feel like you are better than others. And there is no place for idiots in my store. I am calling the police, and given the fact that I still have your credit card data, I will charge the damages caused by your daughter to it.”
The other customers who witnessed the incident said how the shop owner was brave enough to step in for the girl even though she lost money that day.
Amazing isn’t it? What do you think of this story? Share your thought with us in the comments section below.
There are people out there who enjoy flying by plane, but not me to be honest. When I think of all that waiting and the queues at the airports I regret ever buying the ticket. Plus, there is always the chance for someone rude to disturb the passengers with their behavior during the flight.
Well, a man shared a story of how he dealt with the impolite woman sitting next to him and we just can’t stop laughing. Oh boy, I wish I was there to witness the whole thing!
Take a look at the story below:
I was headed to San Diego for a conference. The night before, I went out for some drinks with a coworker who would also be there. A few drinks turned into us pretty much closing down the bar. When I woke up at 6:30 later that morning, I actually felt great – I figured I must have drunk my way through the hangover! This was, of course, a very stupid thought, and as the morning dragged on through getting to the airport, getting through security, and waiting at the gate, my head decided I am an idiot and deserve to be punished. It was not wrong. I made my way through the plane to my row, where I was to be seated in the window (a personal preference). As I approached my row, I saw a woman sitting in the middle seat, with her belongings on my seat.
I politely said that it was my seat and waited for her to move them. She let out an overly-large sigh, then laboriously moved her things onto her lap. She then sat there. And sat. I asked her if she would mind letting me by, and she said the oddest thing:
‘Go over me.’
Now at first, I assumed that this was my fault. I assumed that in my awful, terrible hangover, I had forgotten how people board cramped seats and that I was wrong for assuming she would and should get up to let me in. But then I remembered, I’m an idiot. So I assumed she had some sort of physical disability which made standing and sitting difficult or painful for her, and rather than embarrass her I did as she requested, I went over her.
Shortly before takeoff, she stood up and hollered at her husband, who was in the back of the plane with their two children:
‘I don’t know why you couldn’t get us seats together! Honestly, this is absurd, why didn’t you?!’
Lady, I got an idea why.
I didn’t really care about her constantly reshuffling things or her armrest-hogging. It did bum me out when her daughter came up to our row with a cheese and cracker platter and asked her mom if she wanted some and the lady simply said ‘No.’ Eventually, I was able to fall asleep.
For those who don’t drink, there is a phenomenon called the beer s**ts. After a night of heavy drinking, you will often have a large amount of gas (and other things which go along with it) the next day.
About halfway through out flight, I felt this coming on, and I decided I had no choice but to go. I asked her if I could please get out. The gentleman in the aisle seat immediately got out, but she again said:
‘Go over me.’
Now by this point, I was pretty irritable. I had an awful headache, my stomach was doing somersaults, and I was about to blow an O-ring, and this miserable woman wanted me to go over her? On a moving plane? Fine, I would. I swung my right leg over her, then put my ass over her face, nearly touching. A slight tremble in the flight, and I released a full-on, seemingly never ending fart, a cloud of noxious gas which should have had me arrested for war crimes. I let the whole thing go. Afterwards, I turned, made full eye contact, and said ‘Sorry. Turbulence.’ Everyone around me was fully and truly disgusted, and to them I am still so sorry, but I did what I did for the greater good.
When I got back from the bathroom, she got up to let me in.”
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.
