Bullying poses a significant issue, with alarming statistics revealing that 1 in 5 students aged 12-18 in the United States experience bullying during the school year. Moreover, around 160,000 teenagers have missed school due to bullying, as reported by DoSomething.org.
South Carolinian Randy Smalls acted promptly when he found out that his teenage daughter was mocking a classmate’s clothing and makeup.
Upon learning that Ryan Reese, a seventh-grader at Berkeley Middle School, was being bullied, Smalls’ heart went out to him. This was a situation he could relate to, having been bullied himself in his youth. Without hesitation, he decided to use money that was originally meant for his daughter to take Ryan shopping for new clothes and a makeover.
Recently, Richauna Reese, the wife of Smalls, and Ryan’s mother, discovered the bullying. Despite being friends, they were unaware of the situation until Ryan spoke up. After a phone call between the families, Smalls offered to take Ryan for a shopping spree where he could purchase new clothes and get a makeover at the beauty salon.
Instead of using the money to buy his 13-year-old daughter new clothes as originally planned, Smalls made a compassionate decision to redirect the funds towards Ryan’s well-being after he found out about his bullying situation.
According to Smalls, laughing along with bullies is equivalent to endorsing their behavior. As quoted in Yahoo News, Smalls stated, “When you laugh along, you’re co-signing the bullying.”
“She’s really into fashion, so my daughter was quite upset,” he explained. “However, she joined us and assisted in choosing Ryan’s new wardrobe.”
During his daughter’s church visit, Smalls accompanied Ryan to the beauty salon and generously covered the expenses for bi-monthly appointments until the year’s end.
Upon learning of the kind gesture, nearby salons have stepped up to ensure that Ryan maintains his stylish appearance for the upcoming months.
According to Richauna, Ryan’s mother, her daughter was going through a tough time due to the recent passing of her father, grandfather, and aunt. Additionally, Ryan was also dealing with non-epileptic seizures caused by the stress. Richauna shared with Yahoo News about her daughter’s struggles.
Ryan expressed how the shopping trip had significantly impacted him. He shared, “I was caught off guard. The emotions overwhelmed me, and I started to cry. The bullying I experienced had added to my already existing sadness as I had recently lost my grandfather, father, and aunt. It had taken a toll on my mental health, and I had sunk deep into depression.”
Richauna remarked that it was the first instance she had witnessed where a parent had taken such a strong position against bullying.
According to Smalls, the response he received was beyond his expectations and it has played a significant role in helping his daughter realize her mistake. He expressed his gratitude for the support he received from the community.
Smalls expressed her surprise at the unexpected popularity of her story but also expressed her satisfaction in knowing that other parents can benefit from her experience. She added that her daughter has learned a valuable lesson from the incident.
During an interview with ABC’s Strahan, Sara, and Keke, Smalls emphasized the need for parents to take responsibility for their children’s actions. According to Smalls, while parents can teach their children the right way to behave, they may still get influenced by other children’s behavior. Hence, when such situations arise, parents need to take action and be the responsible authority figure instead of trying to be a friends to their children.
According to Richauna, the pair’s relationship has improved since their previous encounter. “They’re cool now,” she remarked.