We prioritize our children’s safety even before they arrive in this world. Our commitment begins with healthy eating, careful weight management, and taking essential vitamins, all to ensure the well-being of our baby. We attend regular checkups, undergo ultrasounds, listen to heartbeats, and monitor movements. We make sleep choices that favor our baby’s health—side sleeping over back sleeping. We are vigilant about the medications we take, carefully considering their effects on the placenta. We avoid raw or undercooked foods and prioritize safe birthing methods, whether that means opting for midwives, home births, or hospital settings. We nurture, we cry, and we advocate for breastfeeding or finding the best nutritional formulas.
We ensure car seat safety by researching ratings, learning proper restraint techniques, and adjusting harnesses for a secure fit. We invest in non-toxic toys, sippy cups, and pacifiers, while also opting for organic foods rich in nutrients. We introduce vegetables and fruits, stay informed about pesticides, and remain cautious about dangerous items like honey for infants. We learn CPR, mash solids for easy consumption, and monitor for allergies. We check smoke detectors, buy safe toys, and keep an eye on product recalls. Vaccination is non-negotiable. We avoid bumpers, pillows, and blankets in cribs, ensuring safety during diaper changes and while in high chairs. We drive carefully, apply sunscreen, and monitor water temperatures. We purchase rash guards and schedule wellness checkups. Baby monitors become a standard in our homes.
We baby-proof our living spaces, covering outlets, removing sharp objects, and hiding dangerous substances. We accompany them on playgrounds, address their cuts and scrapes, and fret over minor colds. We hold them close, fend off imaginary monsters, and share empowering stories. Parenting books become our guide, teaching us how to help our children navigate their world while discussing potential dangers. We enroll them in good schools, dress them appropriately for the weather, and ensure they stay comfortable and hydrated. We comfort them during moments of distress.
We do everything within our power to keep our children secure. We protect them fiercely.
Then, we send them off to school, and that’s where our protective reach meets its limits. And sometimes, tragedy strikes when someone brings a gun to school. In those instances, our ability to safeguard our children is shattered.
Politicians have repeatedly failed us. They do not effectively regulate firearms or provide sufficient mental health support. Ultimately, the responsibility lies with us. So, what do we do when our reach ends? Do we simply give up?
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In summary, while we strive to protect our children at every turn, there comes a time when that reach is tested in ways we never anticipated. As parents, we must find ways to advocate for our children’s safety beyond our immediate control.