Things are scary. Terrorism, especially these days, is everywhere. We are no longer surprised to see words like “mass shooting” or “gunshots fired” in the headlines of the 6:00 news. It’s a grim reality that the news gets turned off when it comes on at our house as to shield the kids from the real life horrors of the world.
Men killing men, mothers killing mothers, innocent children, of all people, going through the unthinkable… So many lives being violently taken away. There is too much heartbreak for normal hearts to bear.
When you get so invested in these stories and the “what’s happening now” section, you find it hard to not become close to paralyzed with fear. There are attacks on our own soil now. People who have absolutely nothing to do with religious debates are being shot point blank because of terrorists. Public places, even just the grocery store, become possible targets. The level of fear and paranoia is heightened in a large majority of people.
The hate starts. The debate amongst ourselves. Rather than unite as a country, we are torn down the middle. Some pressing for gun reform, others pressing for impeachment. It never ends.
So, to a mother who lives for her babies, what in gods name are we going to do? I wish there was a magic solution to this hate and violence. I wish I could keep my children ignorant of these horrible, evil monsters for their entire lives. I wish that the fear in the back of my mind when someone looks preoccupied or anxious and reaches into their pocket would go away. I wish my nerves could be calmed and I didn’t have this horrible reality of what we are living in to deal with. I wish life was just, easy.
When you take a step back and look at the big picture of what just one tiny person can do in a world so big and unfathomable, it seems dismal. Hopeless. Pointless even. But then you remember you have 2, soon to be 3, little people to raise and bring into this world. That responsibility is on you. Whether we live until we are 100 or die tomorrow, that is beyond any of our control. So let’s not ponder the scary “what ifs” or let fear and paranoia paralyze, or even simply distract us. Let’s instead divert our attention from bad to good.
Raise our children the best way possible. Show them love. Lots and lots and lots of love. No matter how much you overdo it, it can never possibly be enough. This world does not have nearly enough of it, so lay it on thick. Teach fun. Teach innocence. Keep it light and simple for as long as you possibly can. One day, the serious questions will begin. And one day, the people asking these things will be able to handle serious answers back. Don’t rush it.
Embrace childhood and let them run and jump and scream. Teach them to be fair. From the very beginning make sure you engrain in their souls the value of human life. Teach them how precious it is to be alive, and all of the good in it. Teach them that no matter how angry someone else makes us, it is never acceptable or allowed to hurt them. Instill respect, fairness, and peacefully standing up for what you believe in. Help those who need help, and do not dare to think twice about doing this. Compassion goes a very long way, and in the end we are nothing without it.
Teach them fearlessness. That nobody in this world is going to stop us from going out and taking in each day. We have just as much a right to a happy, fulfilled life as anybody else out there. Fear will not keep us inside our homes or outside of fun places. At the same time, teach them defense, but make it fun. Do not scare or worry them. Having an emergency plan will ease your fears.
Embrace differences. Explain how vital it is for humans to look, act, and speak different from the rest. Teach diversity in religion and more importantly, emphasize acceptance. Our differences are what make us interesting and should never be looked at as negative.
This world would be so much more different, and so much more beautiful, if all of our parents raised us this way.
Through a Mother's Eyes 