Mum uses toothpaste to teach her daughter an important lesson about bullying

11-year-old Breonna was due to start at a new school when her mother Amy decided this was the prime time to teach her a valuable life lesson.

To teach her the 'weight of her words' and how what people's remarks can seriously impact others, she used a tube of toothpaste. It sounds bizarre until you hear Amy's explanation. Amy told her daughter to squeeze some toothpaste onto a plate and once that was done, she asked her to put it back into the tube which as we know is next to impossible. When Breonna said this to her mother, Amy's response was:

"Just like this toothpaste, once the words leave your mouth, you can't take them back."

Using the toothpaste as an analogy for this life lesson was a smart decision on Amy's part and it's likely that this is advice Breona will remember for the rest of her life. This is Amy's post in full:

"My daughter starts middle school tomorrow. We've decorated her locker, bought new uniforms, even surprised her with a new backpack. But tonight just before bed, we did another pre-middle school task that is far more important than the others. I gave her a tube of toothpaste and asked her to squirt it out onto a plate. When she finished, I calmly asked her to put all the toothpaste back in the tube. She began exclaiming things like "But I can't!" and "It won't be like it was before!" I quietly waited for her to finish and then said the following:

"You will remember this plate of toothpaste for the rest of your life. Your words have the power of life or death. As you go into middle school, you are about to see just how much weight your words carry. You are going to have the opportunity to use your words to hurt, demean, slander and wound others. You are also going to have the opportunity to use your words to heal, encourage, inspire and love others. You will occasionally make the wrong choice; I can think of three times this week I have used my own words carelessly and caused harm. Just like this toothpaste, once the words leave your mouth, you can't take them back. Use your words carefully, Breonna. When others are misusing their words, guard your words. Make the choice every morning that life-giving words will come out of your mouth. Decide tonight that you are going to be a life-giver in middle school. Be known for your gentleness and compassion. Use your life to give life to a world that so desperately needs it. You will never, ever regret choosing kindness."

Although Amy's post was shared originally last year, it's circulating online again in recent days and it's something that's sure to resonate with other parents. It received a huge reaction when it was first posted and right now, the Facebook post stands at 2.2 million shares and counting.