Whether real or fictional, this story teaches a vital lesson about standing up for our families even in challenging circumstances, even when it may seem like no one cares about our problems, just like one mother.
As an emergency room nurse, my job is demanding and hospital rules require us to leave our phones in lockers and not carry them during shifts. One day I received an urgent call on a private line from the hospital reception. The voice on the other end identified himself as a teacher from my daughter’s school and urgently asked me to call back because my daughter was involved in an incident.
However, in accordance with hospital regulations, I could not simply leave during my shift due to a personal matter. I asked if they could wait until I finished my shift in two hours, but the urgency in their voice made it clear that this was not a situation to be delayed. They further informed me that my daughter was involved in an incident where she hit another classmate.
Your daughter hit another classmate, the phone said.
We have been trying to contact you for the last 45 minutes. It’s actually a major problem.
After arriving at school, I was shown to the principal’s office. My daughter, the teacher, the guidance counselor, the principal, and the boy with a bloody nose and red face are all in the room, along with the boy’s parents.
It took you a while to get here, Headmaster.
Me: “Yeah, the emergency room is very busy. I just spent the last hour sewing up a seven-year-old boy who was cut open by his mother with a metal spoon. I had to talk to the police about it. Me: sorry for the delay.
After watching him struggle to keep his composure, he tells what happened.
My daughter slapped a boy twice in the face after he broke her bra. They seemed more upset with my daughter than the boy.
Me: “Oh. And you want to know if I’m going to sue him for s*xually assaulting my child and the school for allowing it?”
When I talk about s*xual assault and start talking at the same time, everyone tense up.
The teacher said, “I don’t think it was that bad.”
“Let’s not make a big deal out of it,” says the counselor.
“I don’t think you quite understand,” said the teacher.
The boy’s mother begins to sob. To hear my daughter’s gaze, I turn to face her.
He kept playing with my bra, my daughter said. When he ignored my request to stop, I told the teacher, Mr. He advised me to just ignore it. I hit (the boy) because he kept doing it and even unbuttoned my bra. Then he stopped.
I focus on the instructor.
Me: “Did you approve of what he did? How come you didn’t stop him? Come on let me feel your front pants.”
Educator: “What? No!”
You think it’s wrong, me? Why don’t you try to grab the lady’s (counselor’s) bra right now? See how he reacts to the idea. Or the boy’s mother. or yours. Do you believe that it is okay just because they are children?
“Mrs (your name),” said the headmaster. Please keep in mind that (daughter) was still physically harming another child, although I understand your concerns.
Me: “No. She was defending herself from trying to s*xually assault a classmate. He’s obviously a lot taller and heavier than her just by looking at them. Should she have let him touch her more often? What could she do if the one She had helping and protected her in class, didn’t bother? Her bra was unzipped from his hard tugging.
The boy’s father is angry and ashamed, while the boy’s mother is still in tears. The instructor keeps her eyes on me. I turn to face the teacher.
I’ll bring her home, I said. I think the boy picked it up. And I hope that my daughter and no other girl at this school will ever experience anything like this again.
I gathered my daughter’s things and ran away because I was so angry. When I brought it up to a supervisor, they informed me that it was being taken seriously.
If we have no compassion for the suffering of others, how can we truly care for and heal our patients?
This incident shed light on the depressing reality, the fact that even in a school environment where children are supposed to be safe and protected, we can encounter situations where their safety is at risk. He also stressed the importance of standing up for what is right, even if it means challenging authority.
As a parent, it is my job to advocate for my daughter and make sure she feels safe and supported. In this situation, I had to be her voice and make sure her concerns were heard and addressed appropriately. It reminded me that regardless of our profession or circumstances, we must always prioritize the well-being and safety of our loved ones.
In conclusion, this story teaches us the basic lesson of supporting our family members, especially our children, in the face of adversity. It reminds us to stand up against injustice, even if it means questioning those in a position of authority. As parents, it is our duty to protect and support our children and ensure that they grow up in a safe and nurturing environment, both at home and in the wider community.
This story serves as a powerful reminder that disrespect is never acceptable and that a mother will do anything to protect her child.