Unfortunately, following doctor's orders resulted in an altercation that left her feeling like a monster.
Redditor "f*ckeduppface" asked the "Am I the A$$hole" (AITA) subreddit community if she was out of line for confronting the father who told her to cover up her face since it was scaring his 4-year-old son.
The close confrontation took place while the original poster (OP) was on a flight home to visit her family.
"I sustained very bad injuries to my face this month. I'm in the stage of healing when the scar tissue has formed, but it's still very tender 'new skin.' I'm going to have very obvious facial scarring for the rest of my life."
"The injury starts about an inch above my hairline, goes down over my brow so that on part, hair will not grow. It continues down my cheek where it is deepest; I'll always probably have an indentation in the fullest part of my cheek. Then it continues to my jawline."
"In some ways it's OK. I'm happy it's just cosmetic damage. My friends are super reassuring, telling me how badass and sick it's gonna look. They say I'm still as hot as ever, now a little more sexy and mysterious lol."
"But in some ways it really sucks...I know that I'm always gonna be seen first as 'the girl with the scar' and it feels especially bad when people look at me differently."
Accepting her new reality, she tried to keep her head up and face the world with upcoming travel plans.
"This week, I had to fly home for a family thing; it was a plan I'd made long before my injury. I wasn't really looking forward to the pity or people making a big deal of it; I'd rather it not be acknowledged."
"I'd also met with my dermatologist who said that I was at the stage of scar tissue formation that I no longer should be dressing the wounds; the skin was healing and instead I needed to be applying topical cream and Vaseline to keep the site clean and moist."
"It also looks a bit ugly; the building scar tissue is very red and tender, and with the Vaseline over it, looks slick and shiny."
"So I get on this flight; I have the window seat and I put on my headphones and drift off to sleep when the plane is still boarding."
She woke up only to realize the nightmare about to take place was not a dream.
"I wake up to this kid, maybe 4 years old, sat next to me, throwing a tantrum. I didn't catch the first part of it and I honestly couldn't understand what he was yelling about..."
"His father said to me, 'Can you cover that injury?'"
"I said that my dermatologist recommends I don't, so no I don't think I will."
The OP's response sent the father aggressively into protective mode.
"He started snapping at me saying 'there is no need to be so rude. That injury is graphic and it's scaring my little one.'"
"I said 'this is my face. The only d*mn face I've got. It sucks being told I'm so ugly I can't show my godd*mn face in public.'"
She could not stay silent after being stigmatized.
"He started to backtrack saying 'just until it's healed' and I said 'it'll always be with me. Maybe teach some f*cking compassion and respect instead of telling a girl half your d*mn age what you think about her face. That's rude."
"He actually got up after that and I think went to a stewardess about a seat change because a young couple came to sit next to me in a few minutes instead."
After the situation was taken care of, deep regret set in.
"I've gotta admit I felt so low that I put on my sunglasses and had a quiet cry for a few minutes."
"AITA for not covering my healing scar, and for being confrontational about it?"
The responses were all overwhelmingly positive for the OP, with many of the comments reflecting she is NTA (not the a$$hole).
"Dear god no you're absolutely NTA. People that are that heartless shouldn't be allowed in public. Jfc. I'm so sorry that happened to you."
"It does sound like it looks pretty bada$$, for the record! Rock what you got girl!" β rckblykitn14
"Seconded! You sound very cool and bada$$. It's hard to stand up for yourself like that and you f*cking nailed it!" β mother_of_wolf
Not everyone would have handled this the same way as the OP.
"You know how I got this 'wound'? Some a$$hole bothered me while I was minding my own business."
"*Father grabs little one and leaves*"β SashaStriker
While her scar is not ideal, many of the commenters encouraged her to embrace her new look.
"Hell yeah it's bada$! From her description that is literally the type of scar they I immediately chose when I am making a bada$ in a game."
"It is f*cking amazing. Not trying to downplay the injury or the affect it may have on her future though, it's just so f*cking cool." β demonmonkey89
"It also sounds like you may have embarrassed him! Congrats!"
"And honestly, your description makes it sound like you are going to be the owner of a pretty bad a$$ scar. You own it, not the other way around. So kick a$$ and take names!" β sugerplum1972
"In my head she's going to look like a Witcher after the scar heals, which is the most bada$$ looking thing ever." β omaewamu_shinderu
People admired her hutzpah.
"OP sounds like someone who would strut away from exploding buildings in slow mo." β gotothebloodytop
And she was reminded of her priorities.
"OP, the only thing that matters as to whether you should be covering your scar is what your doctor recommends."
"You should be caring for your wound as directed. After that, only your feelings on the subject matter."
"Anyone else who even dares to have an opinion deserves to have their head bitten off." β oxytocin_tattoo
It was a missed opportunity for a teachable lesson.
"I'm so sorry this happened to you! What a sh*t father- could have been a great teaching opportunity for his child that some people are different and that's totally ok, we don't treat them any differently."
"The fact that you are even concerned abt being the a$$hole tells me you are a beautiful person." β AddisonArmilda
Redditor "KahurangiNZ" has a similar facial scar and commiserated with the OP.
The user believed the child's dramatic reaction to the OP's face was "learned behavior."
The person also talked about dealing with children who are more curious than afraid.
"Absolutely. The father had an awesome teaching moment, and completely blew it."
That said, I'm guessing that the kids over-the-top reacting was a learned behavior, quite likely from Dad, which puts him firmly in the position of TA not just for what he said to OP, but for teaching his kid to actively fear or be disgusted by anything that doesn't fit his version of 'normal.'"
"It's a small slide from 'ew, that's a horrible scar, hide it' to 'ew, your skin is the wrong color,' etc."
"I also have a significant scar on my face (lip to the side of my chin and the enervation/muscles are a bit munted so when I smile a section of my chin pulls in funny ways), and in my experience, little kids are curious but not in the least bit afraid."
"They want to ask what it is, how it happened, does it hurt, they want to touch, and I'm perfectly happy to tell them I had an accident and ended up with a scar and it's just a part of who I am now."
"No drama, no grumpiness, it's just, yeah I have brown hair and hazel eyes and a scar."
"I've made a point of teaching my child that people are people regardless of what their exterior looks like, and that it's what's on the inside that really counts."
"When he was little, if he was curious about someone/something I'd explain what he was asking about (e.g., a person using a wheelchair has some sort of injury or disability that means they can't walk at the moment and for some people that might be temporary and for others it could be permanent; the person with the tattoos down their arm has chosen to permanently decorate their skin, etc)."
"OP, you are very much NTA. And I hope that you are (or can become) accepting of this change and that it is now just another part of you."
"While you may not necessarily consider it good (although I hope you find it aesthetically pleasing in some way), it's definitely not bad either, it's just ...there."
"If people want to be judgmental about it, that's their problem, not yours."
The Redditor was not about to end her post without helping a fellow friend.
"Oh, and I found good quality Aloe Vera and Vitamin A and E cream helped the skin healing a lot more than just an emollient ointment. You might like to ask your doctor if that's worth a try. :-)"
One could only hope the father from the flight became contemplative after stoking his son's fear with the confrontation and had a sensible discussion about people looking different.
Because impressions can be just as permanent as scars.
It may sound like baby babble but as far as the dad is concerned, his inquisitive son is commenting on what unexpected turns the season finale of their mystery show might take.
People swooned over father and son reviewing their entertainment program from the couch.
The adorable exchange might have incited a baby boom.
@_11Remember_ Ohhhh my overies πππ... yes I'm a guy, but that's besides the point... Oohhhhh my overies πππβ LSJ (@LSJ) 1559744649
@MarileKleinhans @Victorthemodel @_11Remember_ I just wanna make a baby... don't you?β LSJ (@LSJ) 1559758935
The star of the show is baby Kingston of Clarksville, TN, whose parents are Deztin and Shanieke Pryor.
Shanieke originally posted the clip to her Facebook page where it racked up around 46 million views. Even a ripped version on Twitter posted by Devin Johnson received over three million likes.
At one point, baby Kingston really gets into the program and starts pointing at the screen.
"That's what I was wondering! I don't know what they're gonna do next season," exclaimed daddy Deztin.
The son nods in agreement to acknowledge they're both on the same page.
Then, a perplexed Kingston raises his arms in defeat, and dad responds:
"Right, that's why I'm saying! Don't bring that in, you know what I'm saying? Go somewhere else with that."
This is a full blown convo between passionate dudes.
Another user humorously drew a comparison to chatty significant others:
Just because baby talk sounds like gibberish doesn't mean they don't have anything to say.
@MelaninMotiv8er They got something to say,you just the only one willing to listenπ€£ππ€£ππ https://t.co/qDHUmAEkpYβ Hoodie Obtainment Svc Coordinator (@Hoodie Obtainment Svc Coordinator) 1559743048
@Shes_deathProof @MelaninMotiv8er When I was a foster care case worker, I always had conversations with my kids noβ¦ https://t.co/gPC5KsBZuVβ Megan Jetter (@Megan Jetter) 1559745083
@Shes_deathProof @MelaninMotiv8er @sonshine1411 As a new dad myself at first I didn't understand her but after a yeβ¦ https://t.co/6qOm18imwcβ πΏππΎππππ»ππππ―πππΏ (@πΏππΎππππ»ππππ―πππΏ) 1559759740
Props were given to the willing participant for being a great parent.
@_11Remember_ The dad, #DeztinPryor, needs to get credit for keeping the conversation going by responding with perfβ¦ https://t.co/RiWDpqOSs1β CdnCrone ππ· (@CdnCrone ππ·) 1559753014
@Stvnnesss @Shes_deathProof @sonshine1411 I Try to tell my coworkers the more u talk to them the more they will staβ¦ https://t.co/PfMncQFe26β Nanasia (@Nanasia) 1559760801
People can't get enough of the adorable video that warrants repeated viewings.
@_11Remember_ Literally my face while scrolling Twitter and finding this gem https://t.co/Y983mYJQQ5β Ida Skibenes (@Ida Skibenes) 1559757253
@ida_skibenes @_11Remember_ Iβve watched this 6 times and my eyes are crying Iβm smiling so hardβ meowzers (@meowzers) 1559760374
@_11Remember_ OMG! This is adorable and just made me tear up! HAPPY EARLY FATHER'S DAY! AMAZING! π§‘π§‘π§‘β Sunflower Soul (@Sunflower Soul) 1559747779
Towards the end of the video, Deztin agrees with his son's blabbering thoughts on the program's conclusion.
"Really? I thought the same thing. We think a lot alike, huh?"
Just another day at home with the Pryor's. And we're loving it!
Father's Day is just around the corner, but it's not too late to get the perfect shirt...
...for your perfect dad, available here.
u/Someone_Somewhere1 asked:
Redditors with toddlers, what's the most recent illogical breakdown they've had?
Here were some of the answers.
At 21-months, she suffered through one of life's toughest challenges that no one, let alone a child, should ever have to face.
The toddler was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma when she was nearly 5-months-old.
But Molly is a fighter, and her 15-month-long battle with cancer finally came to an end with the best news.
Molly's mother Chelsea Hughes from Warren County, Kentucky told NBC 12 how she responded upon hearing excellent news.
After five rounds of chemotherapy, her daughter is cancer-free.
"I kind of just fell to the ground after I got off the phone, and I just hugged for her like five minutes."
After spending 130 days in the hospital enduring chemo and radiation treatments, Molly will now be able to enjoy playing outside just like other toddlers.
Hughes recounted the nightmare she never saw coming when she discovered Molly's diagnosis.
She told Fox 35:
"We had no idea she even possibly had cancer. After the CT scan, they found a softball size tumor in her abdomen."
Cancer treatments began right away before Molly learned how to walk.
"She went through 5 rounds of chemo, surgery, 2 stem cell transplants , 12 days of radiation and 6 rounds of immunotherapy. It was the worst year and a half of our lives."
Hughes described how much the family's world changed after the diagnosis in a Facebook post.
It reads:
"Once your child is diagnosed with cancer, your whole world is changed. You are immersed into a world you know nothing about. You suddenly accept a job you never even applied for. You do it for as long and as hard as you have to. You never give up, ever!"
"All you want is for your child to be pain free, to feel good, and to be able to go back to normal life. But it won't be your old normal. It will be your new normal."
"Your new and only goal is to make sure your child gets to live another day. Childhood cancer changes everything."
Molly's stamina was so evident, she was given the phrase "Molly Strong."
"She would just bounce back after every treatment. I mean, it would knock her down for a few days, but then she'd be up playing."
Molly Strong's resilience stems from her love for life.
"I believe that's what's helped her get through is all the prayers she's had, and we just can't thank everybody enough for praying for her and supporting us through all of this," said Hughes.
Molly's family announced her victory in a Facebook post. "OH HAPPY DAY!!!!" she wrote.
"Molly has some BIG news to share!!! Her scans were clear & showed no evidence of disease!! (NED!!!) There is NO active cancer left in her little body!!"
Facebook showered Molly with a lot of love over the happy outcome.
Chelsea Hughes/Facebook
Chelsea Hughes/Facebook
Chelsea Hughes/Facebook
Some sent continuous prayers, and another shared his relatable story and cried tears of joy knowing Molly will have a chance at a normal life.
Chelsea Hughes/Facebook
Chelsea Hughes/Facebook
Chelsea Hughes/Facebook
Today, Molly is in the clear. As a result of the treatment, however, she did lose partial hearing and will return to the hospital where she will be starting a new trial drug for two years to prevent a relapse.
Molly's determination and will is an inspiration to all of us who get knocked down by life's many tough challenges. You just get up, fight, and keep your eyes on the playground.
During last week's Saturday drag brunch at Talde restaurant in Jersey City, drag queen Marti Gould Cummings decided to play "drag roulette", a game where the audience "picks a bunch of songs for us to perform at random."
There are typically a couple of kids in the audience for the show, Cummings told NBC, but most prefer to stare at screens during the lively performance.
Let me know you found me here!
Last week though one toddler was all about the show. When asked what he wanted to hear a 2-year-old audience member had a special request.
When a 2 year old comes to brunch you perform baby shark for them!!! https://t.co/Ikx94mlTxOβ Marti (@Marti) 1552764439
"I asked the little boy what he wanted to see performed, because he had been paying attention when I got to their table, and he asked for 'Baby Shark,'" said Cummings.
"When a 2 year old comes to brunch you perform baby shark for them!!!"
Not wanting to disappoint, Cummings spoke to the show's DJ about making it happen.
"The DJ quickly found the song online, and we added it to the playlist for him."
When the song came on, Cummings joined the toddler in clapping and swaying along to the tune.
The heartwarming performance was caught on camera and posted across social media where it received over 600,000 views.
When it was posted, people couldn't help but love the adorable scene.
@MartiGCummings SO WHOLESOME πππ https://t.co/h6SsbIQFNhβ S T E L L A π M O L O T O V (@S T E L L A π M O L O T O V) 1552803254
@MartiGCummings Hahaha thanks for being such a great performer for my nephew, glad everyone had a good Saturday morningβ Chris Normandeau (@Chris Normandeau) 1552960995
@ChrisNormandeau He was the sweetest! Loved having him and your family thereβ Marti (@Marti) 1552961123
@MartiGCummings This is so cute!!!!!!π€β Javier MuΓ±oz (@Javier MuΓ±oz) 1552834418
@MartiGCummings Only a true entertainer plays to the whole crowd, no matter who or how old they areπβ Christina Stroup (@Christina Stroup) 1552935657
@rjkeats_98 @MajorDeed @MartiGCummings https://t.co/nikA1k4w0eβ Brixton Lad (@Brixton Lad) 1552838886
And Cummings thanked everyone for the warm response to the performance.
https://t.co/CsVnsALycL Thank you everyone for the love and positive messages!!! Let us all work together to spreaβ¦ https://t.co/a7j1vz7Upfβ Marti (@Marti) 1552946713
Though some weary parents weren't nearly as excited to hear the popular song once again.
@MartiGCummings This is so sweet, but now this song will never leave my head! πβ€οΈβ€οΈβ acfreedman (she/her) (@acfreedman (she/her)) 1552791562
@MartiGCummings Adorable - but now it will be stuck in my head all day. π€¦ββοΈ πβ Dixie Longate (@Dixie Longate) 1552769178
@Dixielongate @MartiGCummings I knew enough to watch it with the sound off π€«β Julie Marie Anderson (@Julie Marie Anderson) 1552847588
But by the looks of it, Cummings has just found a whole new audience for the show.
@MartiGCummings @yashar Omg as a parent of kids who are obsessed with this song THANK YOU!! This would have made their YEAR!!β Lisa Keller (@Lisa Keller) 1552948640
@MartiGCummings I gotta bring the kiddo to see you now!β Stephen Oremus (@Stephen Oremus) 1552947465
@MartiGCummings My twins just yelled, βI wanna go see that!β Success!β Morgan Benner (@Morgan Benner) 1552836658
@MartiGCummings I want my 8 y/o to party with some drag queens π± How do I sign up?!β Alex Colson (@Alex Colson) 1552823419
The video, however, has received its share of criticism online, but Cummings who also works as a political activist, is paying it no mind.
@RubyBegoniaAK A place that is welcoming to everyone. Where joy is spread and hate isnβt aloud through the doors.β Marti (@Marti) 1552790102
While some seem to feel a drag show is no place for kids, Cummings wholeheartedly disagrees.
"Anyone who thinks drag isn't for children is wrong," Cummings told NBC News. "Drag is expression, and children are such judgment-free beings; they don't really care what you're wearing, just what you're performing."
"It would be nice if us adults could let the child inside of us out for a little bit, so maybe we could all be a little more accepting of others ourselves."