Ex-teacher who was a victim of child abuse explains why people need to stand up against abusive parents

Trigger Warning: This story contains content related to child abuse that may be distressing to some readers.

We often come across parents who are tired of their child’s playfulness and decide to take physical or verbal actions upon the kids without realizing the repercussions. It can be unbearable to watch, yet people hesitate to intervene in such situations. That is why a former teacher, Lauren (@audhd_formerteacher on TikTok), who is herself a victim of domestic abuse, is asking people to show some courage on the little ones’ behalf.

The ex-educator, in her video message, spoke about how it took years for her to overcome the traumatic experiences of her childhood. The footage begins with a reference to a recent episode of child abuse witnessed by @thiiirdperson. The man was minding his own business at a post office until he saw a dad’s physically violent behavior toward his two sons, who were doing nothing but indulging in usual children's behavior.

The man could not take it when the angry dad started shouting at his little one for throwing things around. The man retorted to the father, “I said, 'Isn't it funny that your son somehow got the idea that it's okay to just hit stuff?'” The father and mother’s upset reaction didn’t stop the man from expressing his outburst.

"I'm sorry that I've had to watch this weird behavior of you striking your children in a public place," he added. Before the situation escalated, a USPS employee approached the man, who chose to stick his ground. Emphasizing that it was important to let the kids know that their parents’ behavior was not okay, the man remarked, "I wanted them to have that data point so that later on if somebody else spoke up, that data point could become a pattern for them."

Lauren, wanting to amplify the discussion, responded by sharing a bittersweet childhood memory involving her younger sister. Like any other family, the three siblings along with their mother, went out to watch a movie. After they came out of the theater, the mom got triggered upon hearing a statement from Lauren's sister.

“I remember my mom grabbing my sister by the arm and throwing her up against the wall,” Lauren recalled. Following this, the angry parent covered the little girl’s mouth with her hand and “screamed in her face to shut the hell up and to stop what she was doing.” Luckily, a woman eyewitness stepped in and said, “Excuse me, ma'am, get your hands off that child. What are you doing?”

Furthermore, the complete stranger refused to indulge Lauren’s mom. “The woman was adamant this is not okay behavior, especially in public,” added Lauren. The incident was a pivotal moment for the now-former teacher to realize that her parents were abusive.

“That was the first time for me that I was like, 'Oh, this isn't normal? people's parents don't do this to them?'” Lauren said while informing her 102K followers that she was not on talking terms with her parents. She further recalled that incidents like these were regular occurrences in her house during their childhood. Their mom had warned the three sisters in the past about the miserable conditions in foster care homes, making the kids fear Child Protective Services (CPS).

“In full disclosure, I am an abuse survivor as well, and I had the same experience. But I still, after 10 years of therapy, question myself: ‘Was that really abuse, or am I just 'too sensitive' like my parents always said?’” The widely circulating video on social media ends with Lauren asking people to come forward in such situations. This may possibly give the children the data point to know this isn't the right behavior. Lauren's video sparked a very important conversation on child abuse in the comments. 

@helenjosephinecooper commented, “I just want to say that, as a younger sibling in an abusive household, your siblings are so thankful for everything you did for them. You shouldn't have had to, but you saved them.” Adding to it, @nyxnocturna remarked, “My mom would be the woman speaking up. I used to get embarrassed that she was minding other people's business and 'making a scene,' but now I know better.”

You can follow Lauren (@audhd_formerteacher) and @thiiirdperson for more educational and mental health awareness content.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of child abuse, there are resources available to help. Call 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) to speak with a crisis counselor 24/7.