Parenting
By Lisa Jenkins
Updated: July 21, 2023
Originally Published: July 10, 2023
I still vividly remember the day I learned about the tragic event at Sandy Hook Elementary School. It was just a few months into my son’s first year at school, and I had recently welcomed his baby brother, who was peacefully sleeping on my chest. As I scrolled through my news feed, the heart-wrenching updates flooded in, and tears began to stream down my face. My baby, so innocent and blissfully unaware, had no concept of the vulnerabilities children face or the darkness that looms in our world.
Every parent who heard the news about Sandy Hook felt an overwhelming sense of grief, as if the tragedy had struck their own family. I couldn’t help but visualize my son’s classroom—the desk he sits at, his coat in the closet, the caring teacher who nurtures him, and his sweet, little face. The weight of that realization crushed me. When I picked him up later that day, I noticed tears in the eyes of many mothers as they collected their children.
We mourned for the lives lost that day and felt immense relief that our children were safe. Yet, we were haunted by the knowledge that such horrors could easily touch our own lives.
It’s an understatement to say that I’ve felt exposed since becoming a mother. I’ve always been prone to anxiety, preoccupied with the potential for tragedy befalling those I love. Life has always felt precarious to me. However, after Sandy Hook, my fears expanded beyond the ordinary concerns of everyday parenting—like falls from playground equipment or illnesses. I now grappled with the notion that if children could be harmed in their own classrooms, what other dangers awaited?
I don’t mean to dwell on negativity, but in the wake of Sandy Hook, the world has seemed increasingly perilous, especially for our children. Just recently, I opened my computer to find two reports trending about children shot in their homes due to unsecured firearms. Shortly afterward, I read about a man who assaulted a 13-year-old girl on an airplane. It fills me with an unshakeable dread—sick, sick, sick is how I often feel regarding the state of our society and the potential threats to my own children.
Every day, the news is rife with stories of children who have faced harm or injustice. These reports deeply disturb me and, frankly, I should probably limit my exposure to them. They only heighten my anxiety and, at times, make me contemplate keeping my children indoors permanently. Yet, I feel a compelling need to stay informed. I want to understand the world we live in, so I can engage with fellow parents, community members, and leaders to find ways to create change. I firmly believe in the inherent goodness of humanity, yet the rise of anger and hatred, particularly towards children, is alarming.
Despite the overwhelming darkness, we continue to move forward. We must wipe away our tears and present ourselves as calm, loving, and supportive parents. But in light of the current state of the world, this task feels monumental. The news has left me feeling utterly frazzled and heartbroken. I can only hope for a time when our children will inherit a kinder, gentler, and safer environment. Their futures depend on it.
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In summary, my experiences and reflections on parenting amid troubling news have left me feeling vulnerable and anxious. Yet, I strive to find a balance between staying informed and protecting my family, hoping for a brighter future for all children.
Keyphrase: parenting in a troubled world
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