The past few days have really been difficult as I attempt to fathom the atrocity that unfolded in Connecticut as a teacher, administrator, and parent. As a teacher, I always thought about how parents were entrusting me with their most prized possession and now as I think about UCHS, it rings true even more. As a parent, I cry when Ethan gets his shot, let alone when I have to leave him alone for an entire day or when I will eventually drop him off at school. The parents of the young ones killed could never have predicted that sending their child to school would end like it did. Obama's speech last night was beautiful and he captured the essence of love, community, gratitude, and sorrow. Those little ones had their whole lives ahead of them...what a tragic and senseless horror.
...someone once described the joy and anxiety of parenthood as the equivalent of having your heart outside of your body all the time, walking around. With their very first cry, this most precious, vital part of ourselves our child, is suddenly exposed to the world, to possible mishap or malice, and every parent knows there's nothing we will not do to shield our children from harm. And yet we also know that with that child's very first step and each step after that, they are separating from us, that we won't--that we can't always be there for them.
I am just so sad as I think about those teachers who put their students first, the young ones who faced horror firsthand, and parents who have to bury their children way too young. I continue to hug Ethan extra tight and am reminded of the importance of looking at the good as opposed to fixating on the bad. We'll continue to teach Ethan right from wrong and try to prepare him for the horrors he will see and hear about, but there are no words to describe this tragedy. I think Mr. Rogers said it best.
...someone once described the joy and anxiety of parenthood as the equivalent of having your heart outside of your body all the time, walking around. With their very first cry, this most precious, vital part of ourselves our child, is suddenly exposed to the world, to possible mishap or malice, and every parent knows there's nothing we will not do to shield our children from harm. And yet we also know that with that child's very first step and each step after that, they are separating from us, that we won't--that we can't always be there for them.
I am just so sad as I think about those teachers who put their students first, the young ones who faced horror firsthand, and parents who have to bury their children way too young. I continue to hug Ethan extra tight and am reminded of the importance of looking at the good as opposed to fixating on the bad. We'll continue to teach Ethan right from wrong and try to prepare him for the horrors he will see and hear about, but there are no words to describe this tragedy. I think Mr. Rogers said it best.
"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." To this day, especially in times of "disaster," I remember my mother's words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world."
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