Many babies are born with birthmarks, and are often a unique quality parents find endearing about their little ones. And it’s the same for mum Katie Crenshaw, from Atlanta, Georgia, when it comes to her six-month-old baby Charlie.
Charlie was born with a birthmark called papillary hemangioma on the right side of her face, which is a benign vascular tumour that does the little one no harm, and they mostly disappear over time.
For now, Charlie takes medication to ensure the birthmark doesn’t get any bigger.
So like every loved-up mummy, Katie posts piccies on Instagram gushing over how cute her little baby girl is, but sadly, some of her followers haven’t got the same perspective.
And it wasn’t just strangers that said the hurtful comments, but friends and family too, which understandably began to make Charlie’s parents feel down. While they were excited about their baby’s latest milestone, others only cares about her unusual appearance.
‘Turn her to her good side,’ ‘too bad she has that, she is so pretty otherwise,’ and ‘praying it goes away!’ were just some of the comments she got used to reading and hearing.
But eventually Katie got sick of the hurtful remarks, and took to her blog, twelve & six, to strike back at nasty comments
She wrote: “Charlie is Charlie and it’s part of who she is. It doesn’t need to be constantly commented on, critiqued, or questioned. While I don’t mind educating curious minds, I don’t need your opinion on how it its progress or the affect it may have on her. It’s a part of her unique beauty.
"[Her birthmark] may never disappear, and guess what? It doesn’t have to. I would much rather chat about her latest milestone achievement, her amazing smile, or how gorgeous her eyes are.
She added: “I encourage you to, instead of praying it will disappear, pray that she grows into a confident girl who loves herself no matter what she looks like. Pray that constant comments and opinions from friends, family and strangers will end before she’s old enough to overhear them.
"Pray that she will be a strong person in the in an age where we are bullied for any number of reasons.”
A sentiment we’re sure all mums can understand – we love our babies as they are, no compromise.
The blog post has since blown up, being read and shared by thousands across the world.
Speaking to BuzzFeed News, Katie explained Charlie’s birthmark “was the only thing anyone wanted to talk about anymore.
“We had moved on and just wanted to talk about normal baby things.”
“I had no idea this would reach so many… I am extraordinarily moved by the lives our story has touched.”
Katie insists she wants to help “normalize ‘differences’ in appearances,” saying she doesn’t people to pity people who look slightly difference, but to embrace their individuality.
Read the full blog post HERE.