You probably don’t remember every single detail of your childhood, but we’re certain there are some memories that will be stuck there for life.
People usually remember the fun trips with their families, and unfortunately, some things that their classmates have said about them.
For that reason, one mother decided to make sure her daughter will understand the power of words before she even started her first day of middle school.
Amy Beth Gardner wanted to teach her daughter Breonna as to why it is very important to choose the words we say very carefully, and she shared her wisdom through a quite visual lesson, which she later shared on her Facebook profile.
Her post has since gone viral, being shared more than 1.8 million times, and you will see why.
The mother explained that she did the usuals at first: she decorated her daughter’s locker, bought her new uniforms, and even surprised her with a new backpack. Then, she asked her 11-year-old daughter to squeeze toothpaste on a place and told her to put the paste back into the tube. Of course, the 11-year-old Breonna could not do that, since it’s virtually impossible, and her mother knew that.
This is what she wrote in her post:
“You will remember this plate of toothpaste for the rest of your life. Your words have the power of life or death. 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. 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. 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. 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.”
After the activity, she and Breonna took some time to discuss personal examples of situations in which words played big roles.
So, did it work?
After Gardner discussed personal examples of situations in which words played big roles with her daughter, she sure thinks so!
