This remarkable story will ignite a fire within you, showcasing the power of a mother who stands up for her daughter’s rights and refuses to let her be bullied. It’s truly inspiring how she defends her daughter’s actions flawlessly, demonstrating that no one should have to tolerate such unacceptable behavior, especially not children.
As an Emergency Room nurse, my phone is typically out of reach while I’m on duty, locked away in my locker. However, on this particular day, a call comes through the hospital reception on a private line, demanding my immediate attention.
Phone: “This is [Teacher] from [School]. There’s been an incident involving [Daughter]. We need you to come in.”
Me: “Is she ill or injured? Can this wait until my shift ends in two hours?”
Phone: “[Daughter] has struck another student. We’ve been trying to reach you for the past 45 minutes. It’s a serious matter.”
Concerned, I rush to the school, where I’m escorted to the Principal’s office. The room is filled with my daughter, her advisor, a male teacher, the Principal, a boy with a bloody nose and flushed face, as well as his distressed parents.
Principal: “Mrs. [My Name], how kind of you to FINALLY join us!”
Me: “Well, things do get busy in the ER. In fact, just an hour ago, I had to stitch up a seven-year-old who had been beaten by his mother with a metal ladle. And to top it off, I had to deal with the police regarding the matter. So, I apologize for the inconvenience.”
(Though he tries to hide it, the Principal appears slightly embarrassed as he proceeds to explain the situation. Apparently, the boy had snapped my daughter’s bra, and in response, she had punched him in the face…twice. Oddly enough, it seems like they’re more annoyed with my daughter than with the boy.)
Me: “Let me guess. You want to know if I’m going to press charges against him for sexually assaulting my daughter and against the school for allowing it to happen?”
(They all become flustered at the mention of sexual assault and start talking over each other.)
Teacher: “I don’t think it was that serious.”
Advisor: “Let’s not overreact.”
Principal: “I think you’re missing the point.”
Suddenly, the boy’s mother begins to cry. I turn to my daughter to get her side of the story.
Daughter: “He kept snapping my bra. I asked him to stop, but he didn’t listen. So, I told Mr. [Teacher], hoping he would help. Instead, he told me to ‘ignore it.’ But then, [Boy] did it again and this time he undid my bra, so I hit him. After that, he finally stopped.”
I then turn to the teacher.
Me: “You let him do this? Why didn’t you intervene? Allow me to touch the front of your trousers for a moment.”
Teacher: “What?! No!”
Me: “Does that seem appropriate to you? Maybe you should go over and pull on Mrs. [Advisor]’s bra right now. See how enjoyable it is for her. Or perhaps try it on the boy’s mother. Or on me. Do you think it’s just harmless fun because they’re kids?”
Principal: “Mrs. [My Name], with all due respect, [Daughter] still physically assaulted another student.”
Me: “No. She defended herself against a sexual attack from another pupil. Just look at them; he’s nearly 6 feet tall and weighs 160 pounds. She’s only 5 feet tall and weighs 84 pounds. He towers over her and is twice her weight. How many times should she have allowed him to touch her? If the person who was supposed to help and protect her in the classroom couldn’t be bothered, what other choice did she have? He pulled her bra so forcefully that it came undone.”
(The boy’s mom continues to cry, while his dad appears both angry and embarrassed. The teacher avoids making eye contact with me. I then look at the Principal.)
Me: “I’m taking my daughter home now. I believe the boy has learned his lesson. And I sincerely hope that nothing like this ever happens again, not only to [Daughter], but to any other girl at this school. You wouldn’t tolerate this behavior towards a member of the staff, so why would you allow it towards a 15-year-old girl? I’ll be reporting this to the school administrators. And if you—” turning to the boy “—EVER lay a hand on my daughter again, I WILL have you arrested for sexual assault. Do you understand me?”
Overwhelmed with anger, I gather my daughter’s belongings and leave. I waste no time in reporting the incident to the School Board, some of whom I know personally, and they assure me that it will be dealt with firmly.
To ensure her safety, my daughter is placed in a different class for that particular subject, away from the teacher and the boy.
