Until Michael’s teacher informed MaryAnn Parisi that her child was being bullied, she wouldn’t have known what her kid endured at school everyday.
Michael was born at twenty-six months; he’s three months premature. His first three months was spent trying to survive. Three months later his biological mother left him.
“I am not his [biological] mom,” MaryAnn says in her heartbreaking Facebook post. “But in every other way, I am his mother.”
“He has survived failure to thrive and numerous other health issues to become the strong, healthy boy he is. He didn’t learn to talk till he was 3 years old. Walking was very delayed. He didn’t have teeth till after his first birthday. He was so very behind.”
“You don’t have to like him, but you do have to respect him.” Photo credit: MaryAnn Parisi
MaryAnn then details how sweet of a child Michael is: “Oh how he loved. To this day, his smile is the best thing ever. There is not one person he doesn’t like/love, including those who tormented him today. He forgives and honestly, he forgets too. There is not one judgmental bone in his body.”
For Michael’s bullies, she has this to say. “Kicking his chair, calling him stupid, ugly, brace face, bucky beaver. Telling him to sit down and shut up is not the way.”
“You don’t have to like him, but you do have to respect him. He’s a fighter, that’s a very small portion of his story. Share, teach, grow. Most importantly respect those around, you never know what they have been through.”
MaryAnn is the kind of mother we want to have, the kind of mother we want to be. Hers isn’t the easiest parenting situation, nor the most conventional, yet she makes the most out of it, and tries to be the best parent she could be.
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