Amahle was a very adorable and confident young girl. She had a very beautiful smile. At the age of 5 she lost her baby teeth (or milk teeth). When her adult teeth started to grow, the two front teeth were close together and her canine teeth were also sticking out of her mouth. Problems began when Amahle started first grade. Some children in her class started making fun of her teeth. They would call her mean names and say that her teeth were ugly and she should never talk. This made Amahle feel very sad and she lost her confidence. She stopped smiling and whenever there were pictures taken at school, she would always keep a serious face. When she had to speak in class, she would cover her mouth to hide her teeth. Amahle learned to hide her teeth and as a result, she lost her smile.
Amahle used to come home from school upset because her classmates teased her about her teeth. On these days, she would sit on her mother’s lap where she felt safe and loved. Her mother would tell her, “Always remember, you are beautiful just the way you are. You are valuable and important, no matter the shape or pattern of your teeth.”
Amahle began to accept and appreciate her teeth. Even though the teasing did not stop at school, she never stopped encouraging herself. Whenever she had a moment to stand in front of the mirror, she would recite her mother’s words over and over again. She would even smile, something she rarely did even when she was by herself.
As she continued this practice, her confidence began to grow, and she started to speak without hiding her teeth at school. It was not easy, but Amahle was slowly learning to accept herself just as she was.
One day during the school holidays, Amahle’s mother took Amahle to a dentist to get braces. When they arrived at the dentist’s office, Amahle asked her mother, “Why are we here?” Her mother replied, “We are here to fix your teeth.” Amahle felt excited at first, but then her mood changed. “But mama, I was starting to accept and love my teeth just the way they are. I was learning not to let the bullies in my class define my beauty.” Amahle’s mother hugged and reassured her, saying, “It’s okay, my dear I am proud of you for standing up to your bullies. Eventually, you would have needed to fix them. And guess what? That day is today. Now you know how to stay strong when people discourage or tease you. You know how to find courage and love parts of yourself that the world may not love or accept.” Amahle happily went in to see the dentist and the dentist have her braces to fix her teeth.
After schools reopened, Amahle returned wearing her braces. Her braces had slowly started fixing her teeth. She now had more confidence and confidently spoke without feeling the need to hide her teeth. When they had another photo shoot at school, Amahle happily smiled. She was able to smile freely around others again. She had regained her confidence back. Amahle smiled again.
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Moipone Thandeka Rankoe is a communications graduate from the University of the Free State. She is the proud creator of ‘All Things Life with Thandeka’, a personal blog where she dives into all aspects of life. Her ultimate career goal is to become a communications specialist for a reputable company. Equipped with strong skills in communication, digital marketing, and critical thinking, Thandeka is ready to make an impact. Additionally, when she is not busy pursuing her dreams, you can find her immersed in the world of books or crafting her own stories.
Read – Smile – A Children’s Literature by Birungi Vivian, Uganda
