In today’s world, it often feels like fear lurks around every corner. News about terrorist attacks, mass shootings, and other acts of violence flood our social media and news platforms. It can seem as though no place is immune to the threat of sudden danger or horror.
This is precisely the atmosphere that those driven by hatred want to cultivate. When we allow fear to take hold, we inadvertently give them the power they crave. Our anxiety feeds their agenda, reinforcing the notion that their actions are effective, that they are somehow winning.
We cannot afford to let them believe they have the upper hand.
The reality is that, despite the relentless stream of alarming news, we are currently living in one of the safest periods in human history overall—especially in the United States. It’s important to remember this fact when confronted with sensationalized stories designed to instill fear. While our feelings of dread are valid, succumbing to them is not an option.
Fear often walks hand in hand with hatred. Most rational individuals understand this instinctively. Conversely, love and bravery are essential allies in the fight against extremism. If we truly wish for love to prevail, we must summon our courage. Fear only serves to empower those who harbor hate.
The challenge, however, is that we are talking about our children. It’s one thing to navigate the world with courage on our own, but it’s a different story when we hold our kids’ hands and guide them. The fear of being in the wrong place at the wrong time can be paralyzing. What if something were to happen to them? How could we ever forgive ourselves?
I often flip that question around: How could I ever forgive myself for letting fear prevent my children from living their lives? That’s no way to exist, especially when the actual risks are minuscule compared to the everyday activities we engage in. For instance, driving with our children is statistically far more dangerous than many situations we might worry about.
While I may feel a bit uneasy in crowded spaces, I refuse to let fear dictate my actions. The truth is, there are countless opportunities for harm, yet over 99.99% of the time, people choose to act with kindness instead.
During our 12 years living in the Chicago suburbs, my family frequently took the Metra train into the city. Sometimes, my anxious mind would wander to the various ways an attack could occur on our route. I could conjure up scenarios easily, but the reality is that in 2016 alone, Metra safely transported over 80 million passengers without incident. This statistic, along with my experiences, reassures me that the risks are indeed minimal. Statistically, Americans are more likely to die from choking on food than from a terrorist attack. And just to put it into perspective, you are over 12,000 times more likely to suffer harm from your food than from a refugee who turns out to be a terrorist.
While anyone can fall victim to random acts of violence, the vast majority of people are inherently good. Most simply want to live their lives peacefully. We must not allow the fear of unlikely scenarios to hinder us from fully embracing life, regardless of how frightening the headlines may be—especially when inciting fear is the very goal of such events.
I refuse to allow fear to triumph, and I will teach my children to do the same. We will continue to use public transportation, attend zoos, concerts, museums, and community gatherings. I will empower them to be wise and prepared, to exercise caution when necessary, but not to live in paranoia over every possible what-if.
I will instill in them the values of rejecting fear and hatred when they arise and encourage them to choose love and courage every single time.
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In summary, while the world can indeed feel scary, it’s crucial not to let fear win. By choosing love and courage, we can navigate life with our children in a way that enriches rather than restricts their experiences.
Keyphrase: overcoming fear in parenting
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