“The whole situation, I was looking for any other reason for his behaviors outside of race. I didn’t want it to be race related. We never do. Ever.”

‘You’re in the area to buy crack.’ I was alone on the side of the road, my beachball-sized belly hiding under my dress.’: Woman shares encounter with police officer, ‘I felt I didn’t belong’

Teen Bullying Victim Turns Pain Into Purpose, Donates 600 Handmade Blankets To People In Need
“I was told I don’t matter. When I saw their smiles, I immediately forgot about the rest of the world around me, because the only thing that mattered was making that person feel loved.”

‘I’m going to SPIT and COUGH on you.’ She began proclaiming ‘WHITE POWER’ and snatched my mask off my face.’: Woman stands up to racist lady in Home Depot, ‘Racism is not welcome’
“I was walking with an employee when a woman interrupted us mid-conversation. She took her mask off to complain about other customers who didn’t have theirs on. I asked her to keep her mask on as well. Everything escalated so fast. Walking away would have been easy. However, it wouldn’t have been the right thing to do. Not in my heart.”

‘I don’t really like black people, but you’re different.’ I shrank inside myself. I couldn’t change my skin, but I could lose every identifiable piece of who I was to blend in.’: Woman recalls experiences with racism, ‘I’m no longer a scared little girl’
“After months of being teased about my accent, my clothes, my hair, my body, I had no wherewithal to speak up when the N-word came out of the mouth of someone I considered a friend. I froze. I spent the rest of the year working hard to drop my accent. I got quiet. I learned not to raise my hand, because the teacher would make it a point to humiliate me anyway.”

‘She was uninvited because she is ‘not pretty enough, skinny enough.’ At 9 years old, her heart has already been broken by unkindness.’: Mom urges ‘love yourself the way you want her to love herself’
“At 9, they’ve already commented on her body, her face, her clothes, her family. Those words don’t hurt me because I know they’re not true. I know she’s enough. What kills me is how she believes the naysayers of the world instead of her mama, the person who knows her best.”

‘Today I listened to two women complain about how ‘disgustingly fat’ they were. Their children were RIGHT THERE. And so were mine.’: Mom shares powerful plea to end cycle of bullying, ‘Our children are hurting’
“‘Did you see what she’s WEARING?’ ‘She got fat!’ ‘God, she should date guys her age!’ ‘WHY doesn’t she just wear a bit of foundation?’ My children were right there.”

‘Why is a 13-year-old girl in the men’s room?’ His voice was louder than necessary. My son emerged, looking pale. He was just trying to poop in peace.’: Mom proud of son for ‘continuing to stay true to himself’
“He exited the public men’s toilets at the truck stop and looked right at me. ‘He is a boy. Just because he has long hair does not mean he is a girl.’ He turned a corner and walked back to us, just so he could get the last word in: ‘Not in a man bun…’ I didn’t even let him finish. My son emerged, mortified. He was just trying to poop in peace.”

‘My son makes fun of the autistic boy in his class and it’s hilarious!’ You could hear a pin drop. We stopped our giggling, and turned to her.’: Mom of son with autism raises awareness about adult bullying
“I immediately thought I must not have heard her incorrectly. No one would think this, let alone say it out loud. She continued without fear. ‘My son has the whole act down. He covers his ears, repeats words, and even does a hand twitch! He has the flap down perfectly.’ My stomach dropped. I started repeating to myself, ‘Do not cry. Do not cry.’ I willed myself to hold it together. My son covers his ears. My son’s hands twitch. My son flaps his hands. And one of my greatest fears is he will be bullied for it.”

‘I seriously spent 10 minutes scrubbing my dootie hand and crying. My dog has been tormenting me for 7 seven years.’: Mom shares hilarious story of ‘angry pooter’ dog, ‘family is familly, no matter what’
“Frank is an angry pooter. Things he has pooted on when mad at me: my pillow, bed, couch, shoes, literally a pack of crackers, inside my purse, in my suitcase, and on top of a makeup bag. His aim is remarkable for a dog that takes multiple tries to jump on the couch and often falls off while licking his own butthole.”

‘Sexy lady. Hey, sexy lady!’ An older man yelled loudly on my usual running path. He lashed out.’: Woman ‘touched’ after little boy steps up to street harasser, ‘Thank you to the parents raising the next generation to be brave’
“He kept screaming it. I decided to ignore him and keep running, which seemed to really annoy him. He lashed out. ‘Eff you, dumb b****!’ That was my trigger point. The B word. I ripped off my headphones, prepared to stand up for myself. ‘Hey, that is not nice to say to her!’ This little boy walking alongside his mother and little sister stepped in.”