Mum's response to public body-shaming deserves a slow clap
When you're running out the door to do the shopping, what you're wearing is the last thing on your mind.
Mum-of-two, Charli Stevens from Ohio, was shopping with her five month old baby when she was approached by a stranger.
Charli noticed a woman in her fifties staring at her in the supermarket, which is unnerving enough as it is.
And the rest, well, you'll want to brace yourself:
After staring for a few minutes, the woman approached her:
" A couple minutes later, she came up to me and said “I think your clothes are a little too small on you.” Completely caught off guard and baffled and also hoping she didn't say what I thought she said, I said, “excuse me?” And she said, “well no offence but you’re just a bit big to wear those type of clothes.”
The comments startled and upset Charli and she started to cry. But the strange woman didn't let up.
"She said, “I’m not trying to be mean but maybe just reconsider your outfit before leaving your house from now on.”"
Charli left the shop immediately with her baby girl and continued to cry in her car.
Posting to Facebook later that day, Charli decided to use the experience to highlight how the woman's rudeness could have triggered something much worse:
"Why would a complete stranger go out of their way to insult someone? What if I was severely depressed? Or what if I was constantly made fun of for my weight and that one comment from that stranger pushed me over the edge? Luckily, I’m neither of those things."
After having two children, Charli said that she was self-conscious of her figure, but had recently lost a considerable amount of weight and was proud of herself.
She continued to say that she was grateful that her four-year-old son was not there to witness the exchange.
Instead of wallowing in self-pity, Charli decided to spread a message of love and respect:
"People have got to start being nice. Having common sense. Being respectful. This lady knew nothing about me."
"Please, PLEASE, have some respect for people. You never know what someone is going through or if your one little comment, snicker, stare, whatever will be enough to break someone down or push them over the edge."
She finished to say that we should be giving a good example to our children:
"I fear for my daughter to grow up in this world. We’ve gotta set a good example for our children."
Commenters were quick to support Charli in her brave fight back:
You rock that top, mama!