A mum has been branded "superficial" after "forcing" her young daughter to whiten her teeth - as she feared the teen would be bullied at school.
The upset parent said she urged her 16-year-old to accept the dental treatment, as she's moving to a school with a reputation for "unkind" pupils. The service, which was offered free of cost, was recommended by the teen's dentist after her braces were removed and revealed "irregularly yellow" teeth.
However, several people thought the mum's behaviour was indefensible when she took to Reddit to share her side of the story. In a post defending her actions, the parent claimed: "This weekend, I took Lisa to get her braces removed, and her teeth were yellow, like highlighter yellow.
"After the appointment the dentist told me I could get a free whitening if Lisa wants due to us being loyal and that it might be a good idea as Lisa is old enough and her teeth are irregularly yellow."
She added that her 16-year-old, Lisa, is soon moving to the same school as her older sister, Mila. "It is the best school in the city facility and teacher wise, but from the stories Mila tell me kids can be unkind and are VERY superficial ( to be fair most teens are if I remember correctly)."
Accordingly, she thought it would be best for her daughter to accept the treatment and repeatedly urged her to do so - even after the teen said no.
"I didn't want to be rude to Lisa but I straight up asked her if she wanted to get her teeth whitened because a lot of kids get it after braces and we also got a great deal on it. She then said she doesn't care and that she thinks her teeth look fine," the mum wrote.
She added: "I didn't want to push her but she hasn't been in a school setting for a while ( she wanted to do online for an extra year after the pandemic) so she probably isn't expecting the cruelty she will most definitely receive.
"I asked her again and added that it might be a good idea just for fun before school and she snapped at me telling me I was being obnoxious and superficial and that it doesn't matter because its her teeth not mine."
Ever since, the family has been divided on the issue. "My husband thinks I shouldn't get her preoccupied with looks but Mila tells me Lisa will get a rude nickname and mocked surely by the first week if she doesn't get it done. I might be wrong for pushing her," her post concluded.
In response, commenters offered conflicting advice. One person replied: "Not the a**. But maybe rather then pushing it on her. Let her go to school, and if she decides down the road that she wants to have them whitened take her. Then follow it up with a Mom and daughter lunch date. Your intentions are good. So don't beat yourself up. Just know lots of folks will consider you the a**."
Another thought: "You're the a**. You're putting your insecurities onto her. She clearly doesn't care and you're giving her a complex about it. You are being superficial."
Meanwhile, someone else advised: "I think this can be a lesson for both of you. You need to let her live/look however she likes (as long as it's not hurting anyone or herself). She's old enough to fly off the nest. You need to learn that.
"You also have to make her know you'll be her safety net no matter what. That's what being a parent is about. You cannot protect children from everything, but you can be there to help them get back up again."
Who do you agree with? Let us know in the comments below
