Mallory Torres thought little of it when she posted this snap of her seven-year-old on the back of a motorbike.
But within hours, the photo had gone viral, and for all the wrong reasons.
The snap, which was taken from her own Facebook page and uploaded to motorbike fan group Biker Dad by a fellow motorist, showed her girl wearing a full set of safety gear including a helmet.
Other adults criticised her parenting calling Mallory and her partner bad parents.
Furious at the remarks, the Texan mum created her own post which has gone on to receive over 35,000 shares.
She posted the same photo, beneath which she confirmed what the photo showed: “This is my seven-year-old daughter riding home from school on a motorcycle. Yes. She’s 7, and she’s on a motorcycle.”
Anticipating the response from some readers, she explained why.
“Because I love my daughter,” she wrote. “And she loves to ride, so I allow her to ride on the back of a motorcycle in full gear with my boyfriend who has 20 years of experience.”
She explained that she accompanied her daughter the first time she rode, and felt that the little one “did a great job and that she could handle it.”
Then she went on to shed some real light on her decision for allowing her child such freedom.
She explained that her girl hopes one day to invest in a motorbike of her own, and Mallory wants her to be an experienced passenger before she’s old enough to actually go out and buy one.
“’But it’s dangerous.’ Yes…but so is allowing your children to participate in sports,” she said.
‘”But she can get hurt.” Yes, but how many times has your child gotten a bruise, scrape, or hell even broken a bone from a sport? Want to know how many MY daughter has had?"
“Zero. That’s right. NOT ONE SCRAPE, BUMP OR BRUISE from riding.”
She then went on to point out the everyday dangers that many of us put our kids through, such as driving whilst looking down to change the radio.
“They are healthy, they are up to date on all of their shots and healthcare visits, they are punished when they misbehave and they are praised when they do good.”
Mallory left a key message for the end, pointing out that – as well as protection – we have a responsibility to instil a love of life in our children; to let them really live, not just exist.
“Don’t call us bad parents for allowing our children to experience LIVING,” she said.
“Don’t call us bad parents for enjoying putting a smile on our kids face every now and then with a motorcycle ride home after school.”
“I WILL continue to allow my daughter to ride if she wants to. I WILL continue to be the best parent I can be.”
Read Mallory's full post below.
