Tag: school shooting

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A Parent’s Worst Nightmare – Newtown, CT

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I’m all cried out.

When the news broke on Friday, December 14th about the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, I watched in horror along with the rest of the country.  Another school shooting.  But this one was different.  This time someone targeted babies.  Little kids aged five through seven.  This murderer killed 20 children and six adults.

I am a mother and I felt this event on a very personal level.  I send my children to school every day fully expecting them to return home.  Just like those parents in Newtown.  Now that illusion is shattered.

All that you are left with is the why?  Why did this happen?  Can we stop the killings from happening?  And we look for someone or something to blame.  The media and politicians will talk about gun control, help for the mentally ill and the need for more security in our schools.  There are hard questions that should be asked.  There are solutions that this country needs to enact.  But will it really keep us safe?  Will it really protect our children from evil?

Past events have shown us that an individual intent on doing harm will find a way around our laws and our protections.  Evil is persistent like that.

Yet, we find a way to wake up in the morning and feel positive about the future.  We find a way to cherish the moments we have with those we love.  We find a way to comfort our children and promise to protect them from harm.  We pretend that we are in control.  We rebuild that illusion for our own sanity’s sake.

What happened in Newtown, Connecticut was every parent’s worst nightmare.  I pray that they find peace in the support on a nation.

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School Shooting – A Parenting Moment

 

Everyone has heard about the school shooting in Chardon, Ohio.  Seventeen year old T. J. Lane opened fire in the school cafeteria shooting five students.  Three of those teenagers have died.

I am not here to get into a debate about gun control or bullying.  My heart weeps for every family affected by this event.  Especially those parents that have to do the unthinkable and bury their child.

No, this post asks a question.  How can you protect your children in an increasing evil world?

As a parent, it is terrifying to admit one simple fact.  We don’t have any control over what happens.

A good parent teaches their child how to behave.  We illustrate values and establish rules.  We correct with love.  We demonstrate how to treat other people.  A good parent tries to raise a responsible and considerate person.

Then we release our child into the world (a friend’s house, the movies, or school) and we trust them to make good decisions.  We trust them not to text and drive.  We trust them not to drink or try drugs.  We trust that they won’t pick up a gun to solve a problem.  Perhaps the greatest faith of all, we trust that they won’t get shot sitting in the cafeteria.

Here’s the parenting moment:  This is what I told my girls, “If you know someone has a gun in school, tell.  If you see or hear someone with a gun, run.”

I’ll have to continue to trust they will come home from school each day.  And pray.  I’ll be praying for your children too.

Any parenting advice to share?  Feel free.