One Mom's Heartbreaking Letter Shows How Devastating Bullying Can Be
This might be long winded. I apologize for that. We all have children in our lives in some way or another, I challenge...
Posted by MaryAnn Parisi on Monday, January 11, 2016
One Connecticut mother is inspiring others with a simple, yet powerful, antibullying Facebook post that was penned after an incident at school between her 11-year-old son and a few other students. Hoping that knowing a bit more about Michael and his life would open the bullies' eyes, MaryAnn Parisi fought for her son and for the respect he, and every human, deserves.
Michael was born at 26 weeks. . . . He has survived failure to thrive and numerous other health issues to become the strong, healthy boy he is . . . . He was so very behind. But he loved. Oh how he loved. To this day, his smile is the best thing ever. There is not one person he doesn't like/love, including those who tormented him today. He forgives and honestly, he forgets too. There is not one judgemental bone in his body.
Parisi, who is Michael's adoptive mother, goes on to explain that many of the things the bullies use to chide Michael are things he cannot help, like not always being able to keep food in his mouth because of his underdeveloped lower jaw. She ends the letter speaking directly to the bullies: "You don't have to like him, but you do have to respect him. He's a fighter, that's a very small portion of his story. Share, teach, grow. Most importantly respect those around, you never know what they have been through."
Though the letter is directed at the bullies, we can all take something from her message, that's for sure.