Mother's Facebook post criticises hospital worker who told daughter she was hit by boy at school 'because he likes her'

'I will not allow that message to be ok'

Merritt Smith posted a strongly-worded Facebook post after a hospital worker tried to explain why a boy at school hit her (Merritt Smith/Facebook)

"Because he likes you."

It’s the bizarre yet still-repeated answer to a question many women will remember asking when they were at school, about the boy who pushed them over in the playground: non-logic that physical violence could ever be a way of expressing affection.

Which is why a mother has criticised a children’s hospital after a member of staff reportedly told her daughter that a boy at school hit her for that very reason.

Merritt Smith, who lives in Columbus, Ohio, posted a photo of her daughter with a cut and bruised cheek along with the post that has been shared almost 35,000 times.

"Dear man at the registration desk at Children’s hospital,” she wrote. “I’m positive that you didn’t think that statement through. As soon as I heard it I knew that is where it begins. That statement is where the idea that hurting is flirting begins to set a tone for what is acceptable behaviour."

The post continues: "My four year old knows "That’s not how we show we like someone. That was not a good choice'.

"In that moment, hurt and in a new place, worried about perhaps getting a shot or stitches you were a person we needed to help us and your words of comfort conveyed a message that someone who likes you might hurt you.

"No. I will not allow that message to be ok. I will not allow it to be louder than ‘That’s not how we show we like each other’.”

"At that desk you are in a position of influence, whether you realize it or not. You thought you were making the moment lighter. It is time to take responsibility for the messages we as a society give our children.

"Do not tell my 4 year old who needs stitches from a boy at school hitting her ‘I bet he likes you.’ NO."

Ms Smith’s words sparked a debate in the comments section about how feeding children the notion that violence can be seen as a sign of affection could be severely damaging in the future.

She added that she did not wish to attack the hospital or get the man fired as he "genuinely didn’t mean any harm".

"Awareness, empathy and responsibility are my only goals with this message," she said.