Every parent has to cope with tragic world and national news in their own way. Some parents shield their children from the events as much as possible, some explain in detail. With the recent shootings in Newtown, CT. and now yesterday's act of terror in Boston, we've proactively talked to our three right away so they hear about it first in our language. When I think about it, our ultimate goal is to somewhat neutralize the story. Not that the events deserve to be neutralized-- innocent children and adults horrifically killed by senseless violence is outrageous and tragic but our children's lives need to go on. We feel they deserve to have their their psyches and nerves protected from becoming too damaged or frayed by terrible, unpredictable violence.
My just-turned eleven year old son takes the news yesterday like a small adult. His face pales, he walks away from me and sits down on the living room couch with tears swimming in his eyes. He drops his head in his hands for a minute. "Why?" he asks.
My nearly 8 year old twins absorb the information more lightly. Both have goofy and lighthearted personalities right now but they act serious for a few moments when they talk to me about it. "Horrible, just horrible." is all they both seem to want to say right now.
We've had many discussions with our three over the years about the "war on terror." How it's really hard to "find the bad guys." That our law enforcement and government is "doing everything they can" to protect us. We talk about how the "President will make sure justice is served," "how we can't just bomb a whole country if we think the bad guys are there" and how "we can't let them win." We'll keep having those talks and answering their questions as best as we can.
In the end, what I hope they take in at this time is "we can't let them win." It's what we all must try take in. I consider myself an extremely patriotic person but I'll try to stop myself from writing a full-on anthem here. I'll just write a few words to hearten myself and hopefully whomever else might read this.
We can't let them win. We won't let them win. Evil and violence have existed from the beginning of time but so has good, light and love. Americans are not perfect people but the truly evil among us are the vast minority. We are chock-full of everyday heroes. This world is vast but there are far more peaceful, loving souls than there are terrorists. We must go on and live our lives for today. Because tomorrow is not promised, be as joyful and fearless as possible. Pray that those who's lives have been terribly affected by senseless tragedy can someday, somehow do the same.
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