It's a parent's duty to make sure their child is healthy, well and happy.
For that very reason, it's also a parent's worst nightmare to see their child
upset and not well.
You can only imagine how devastating it is as a parent to hear your child
ask you the question: "What's wrong with me?"
That's exactly what happened to mother Lauren Russel one day after her
3-year-old son had been bullied and called "ugly" on the bus just
because of his red hair.
The heartbreaking incident affected Lauren so much that she took to her
Facebook page to write a long post. She asked everyone to read it and spread
the message that this type of bullying is never acceptable and should be
stopped once and for all.
You can read Lauren's powerful and heartbreaking post below.
"Today my heart broke in two.
Whilst travelling on a public bus number 12 I witnessed such
cruel behaviour towards my 3 year old son from a very narrow minded boy who
couldn't be much older than 13. Unfortunately this hasn't been the first time
and I know it won't be the last.
He's been targeted by people of all ages."
And what for? Because he has ginger hair. My beautiful boy
was told social services should have taken him away because his hair colour is
disgusting.
The boy then turned to his friend and said if he ever had a
ginger child he would kill it.
Now my little boy is only 3 and was left very confused. I
feel devastated as I too have ginger hair and [know] all too well what it's
like to grow up being singled out/ the target of such bullies.
He hasn't stopped asking me why people don't like his hair.
He asked me if I could change it for him so people will like
it. He asked me if he could be like his brother who doesn't have ginger hair.
I can feel my heart breaking every time he asks me.
My little boy looks so sad and I want to make it better. The
reason I am trying to go public with this is because I know these cruel bullies
are in the minority.
I want to show my little boy that there is more good in this
world than bad.
There are kind and caring non judgmental people who won't
ever single him out. I ask you all to please share this and show my boy how
beautiful he is.
I want to show him the good in this world with the power of
Facebook.
It isn't okay to bully somebody for their hair colour, not
now. Not ever. Thank you."
Every child is beautiful in their own unique way and no one
should ever make them feel less than that!
Please share this story with all your friends to put an end
to bullying once and for all!