An elementary school - one place you know, for sure, you are safe.
A Kindergarten classroom - the most innocent of all the children there.
11 days before Christmas - I know there is never a "good" time, but this seems especially cruel.
28 lives lost.
Feelings of security vanished.
Faith shattered.
It really makes you think. About living in this world. And being a parent in it. About protecting your children. And holding on to them. About embracing each day. And about letting go.
I had a helpful conversation with a friend today... who said that all we can do as parents is hold on to each moment we have with our children... but that we have to be willing to remain detached.
I know she is right, but this is something I struggle with. It is the reason I take so many pictures of them. It is the reason I beat myself up about not writing more in their baby books. It is the reason I worry about them and shelter them and sometimes consider never letting them out of my sight.
I am their mom. It is my job to take care of them. And the reality that I can't protect them from everything is a hard pill to swallow. It is something I am working on.
What I know I can do is thank God for them each and every day - in the good times and in the struggles - and let them know, in ways big and small, how blessed I feel to be their mama.
I am reminded of a quote by Mother Teresa, who was asked when she won the Nobel Peace Prize, "What can we do to promote world peace?"
Her answer? "Go home and love your family."
This I can do.
As always, well said.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written <3
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful words for such a sad day.
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ReplyDeleteSuch a senseless act. It is a sad day for all of us.
Your thoughts are beautiful. Let's all try to remember and live them.
Beautifully said :)
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog tonight but wanted to read some of your other posts. You sound like a very good caring loving Mom, what a wonderful thing it is to hear how much you care. Even tho I'm older, Grandma (72) I grieved for the children so senselessly murdered. If he had to kill them stay and take his punishment, not escape blithely.
ReplyDeleteThere's a situation going on in Grand Junction, CO (we live about 20 miles west of there. Anyway a young Mother lost her husband to an accident in Oct., in Nov. she went up to the mountains in pretty cold weather, left her 2yr. old and 4yr. old in her car for 1 1/2 hours at least while she was visiting a guy. When she finally came back the little boy was dead and the 4yr. old unconscious. They ended up sending him to Denver childrens' hospital where he died 2 days later. It seems she left the heater going and they died of hyperthermia.
She wasn't charged for their deaths until earlier this week (after the results of their autopsies) where she was arrested in Florida, was all upset, what did she do? Give me a break. Other people she knew have commented on how she'd let the boys run outside unsupervised for hours in their underwear in the cold. They were always dirty and cried they were hungry. There were reports from neighbors that said how she'd let the boys go wild before her husband was killed so she can't blame her negligence on grief.
People had been asking for weeks why she hadn't been arrested before. Yeah I'd like to know myself. It makes me so angry, those two sweet innocent little boys deserved to be loved and cared for. The boys father's parents wanted to bury the boys with their dad but their mother wanted them to be cremated. She wouldn't let them near the boys before they died. I only hope that girl is punished and never has any more children, Got help them.
I have 4 kids of my own, the oldest 3 were very close in age and I was divorced when youngest was only 1 1/2 yrs. old and had another after getting remarried. It makes tears come to my eyes and my heart hurt when I think of those children in CT and the two boys here.
Why do things like this happen? Think it's going to be a very long time before we can let things like this fade somewhat from our minds. We have children to love,protect, all the things we do as parents.