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"I Bullied a Classmate for Two Years, and Now My Daughter Is Being Teased Too" – What’s Your Biggest Teen Mistake?

Szőke Angéla4 min read
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"I Bullied a Classmate for Two Years, and Now My Daughter Is Being Teased Too" – What’s Your Biggest Teen Mistake? — Lifestyle
In this article

Tattoos

Tattoos
As a rebellious teen, nothing felt cooler than tattoos—I thought they made me look insanely cool. Now, at 48 and a mom of three working as a lawyer, I’m constantly trying to cover them up. I have a terribly awkward rose on my shoulder, an embarrassing snake on my calf, and a spider on my groin that’s badly faded. I’ve had several laser removal sessions, which hurt a lot but barely made a difference—maybe just a little fading.

Having a Child

Having a Child
I kept the baby. I know it’s not easy to say, but it was a mistake. My partner and I were living wild—drinking and using drugs—and I honestly don’t know why we thought having a child was a good idea; we probably weren’t thinking straight. Of course, “dad” disappeared quickly, and my son now faces developmental challenges, likely linked to substance exposure. His life will be tough, and I carry the weight of guilt for bringing him into this world.

Hearing Loss

Hearing Loss
I played in a rock band for thirty years, and even though it was just a hobby, my hearing took a serious hit. The same goes for our drummer. Our guitarist always wore earplugs and has no issues. Since then, I warn every young musician I meet to protect their hearing—it’s priceless.

The Girl

The Girl
Along with two classmates, I bullied a girl throughout our last two years of high school. She transferred from another school, didn’t know anyone, and had no friends—making her an easy target. I deeply regret it now and tried to find her on Facebook to apologize, but couldn’t—her name is quite common. She never attends reunions, so I’ll probably never get the chance to say I’m sorry. My daughter is now in eighth grade and is being bullied too. It’s heartbreaking to watch her suffer, especially knowing I was once the one causing pain.

Revenge

Revenge
At 18, I married a 40-year-old man who manipulated, deceived, and used me to get back at my mother, who had rejected him years earlier. That relationship led to four years of a toxic marriage, a long divorce, and a complete breakdown in my relationship with my parents. I know I was young and the older man bears responsibility, but I wish I had listened to my mother’s warnings instead of thinking she was just jealous of my happiness.

Lost Years

Lost Years
I loved going to university, and my parents promised to support me as long as I studied because education was the priority. That led to three degrees but also a lot of wasted years. I partied and studied—not what was practical, but what interested me. Now, at 30, I have three degrees that don’t help me, and zero work or life experience.

Grandpa’s Pride

Grandpa’s Pride
With my fresh driver’s license, I borrowed my grandpa’s beloved car and crashed it beyond repair because I wanted to show off to my friends. Poor grandpa never got over it, and I think it contributed to his passing a year later.

Sports

Sports
My coaches told me straight up I wasn’t built for wrestling, but I was determined to prove them wrong. I never succeeded because they were right, but now I wake up every morning with aches all over: my neck has been operated on three times, my knee is shot, and I live with chronic pain.

Braces

Braces
I never wore my nighttime braces—even though they cost my parents a fortune—and now I’m embarrassed by the gap between my two front teeth.

Easy Come, Easy Go

Easy Come, Easy Go
At 18, I inherited a sizable sum from my grandmother, but I blew it all on nonsense instead of investing in something like a small apartment. I’ll be renting for the rest of my life.

Photos: istockphoto.com
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