Mother Uses Tube Of Toothpaste To Teach Her Daughter A Lesson About Bullying
#1
This mother tried to teach her 11-year-old daughter an important life lesson about the power of words before her first day of middle school.
#2
Amy Beth Gardner from Cleveland, Tennessee, took a tube of toothpaste and squirted it all out onto a plate before instructing her to put it back in the tube.
She posted an image of the toothpaste on the plate and uploaded it to Facebook with her words of advice.
#3
Gardner wrote on Facebook:
"When she finished, I calmly asked her to put all the toothpaste back in the tube."
#4
Her daughter replied:
"But I can't! It won't be like it was before!"
#5
Amy told her daughter, Breonna, to remember the plate of toothpaste for the rest of her life.
#6
She said:
"Just like this toothpaste, once the words leave your mouth, you can't take them back."
#7
Amy wrote on facebook:
"As you go into middle school, you are about to see just how much weight your words carry. You are going to have the opportunity to use your words to hurt, demean, slander and wound others. You are also going to have the opportunity to use your words to heal, encourage, inspire and love others."
#8
"You will occasionally make the wrong choice; I can think of three times this week I have used my own words carelessly and caused harm. Just like this toothpaste, once the words leave your mouth, you can't take them back. Use your words carefully, Breonna."
#9
"When others are misusing their words, guard your words. Make the choice every morning that life-giving words will come out of your mouth. Decide tonight that you are going to be a life-giver in middle school."
#10
"Be known for your gentleness and compassion. Use your life to give life to a world that so desperately needs it. You will never, ever regret choosing kindness."
#11
Gardner's powerful lesson not only affected her daughter, but it's also reached millions of others. The post went absolutely nuts on Facebook, with over 700,000 people sharing the simple, yet powerful, message.
#12
Many people commented about how much they loved the metaphor she used with some saying they have used the same demonstration.
#13
Bullying has an impact that lasts a lifetime and can often have disastrous effects on its victims.
#14
Like Danny Fitzpatrick who committed suicide after constant harassment.
#15
Gardner told ABC News:
"It's really important to me, only having nine years with Breonna, to produce a child that's learned that she needs to be responsible for her actions and her words."We certainly don't expect Breonna not to make mistakes in middle school, but we want to help her."
Gardners' daughters are definitely lucky to have such an inspiring mom.
