I did not learn about the horrific school shooting in Florida until this morning. On a day meant to show love and affection to spouses, significant others, children and friends, something sinister was unfolding at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
Since this morning, I have wavered back and forth between intense sadness and outrage. It is an atrocity that our children, living in the United States of America with every resource and privilege in the world, are not safe at school.
It breaks my heart that my boys practice drills at school over and over again. Where to go, how to hide, what to do…. I am thankful that there are plans in place but devastated that there have to be. I remember how scared I was during a tornado drill at school as a kid. I can’t begin to imagine how terrifying it is to be a child in this generation.
And it makes me furious that the leaders in this country cannot come together to address both gun control and mental illness. I have no desire to start a political conversation but I feel no shame in saying that I believe both play a part in the fact that this was the 18th school shooting this year alone. (I now know that I was misinformed on this number at the time when I wrote this. Sorry y’all! You can’t believe everything you read on the internet.)
I am determined to educate myself and cast my vote in the best way I can going forward. I will also move full steam ahead in instilling values, compassion, grace, the importance of family and the fact that asking for help when you need it is okay in my house. Because I believe the issues go beyond policies into the hearts of our homes.
I hugged my two boys and Honey a little harder and a little longer this morning. And, after they left to start their days, I cried for the moms that won’t ever enjoy that simple act of love again. Can you even dare to imagine how that feels? I almost cannot. I know that none of us are guaranteed a tomorrow, but I wish that didn’t have to be because of senseless violence.
I am praying for all of the lives lost, the families and friends left behind, and yet another school forever marked by violence. But I am also praying that communities and politicians and the brilliant minds in this country can come together and find solutions to make sure that not another life is lost. I am looking for the helpers AND the answers today. Enough is enough.
DIXIE DELIGHTS DELIVERED
[madmimi id=246857]
Well said sweet friend. My heart is breaking. My girls are now grown, but my oldest taught for several years. That was always a fear lurking in the back of my mind. My heart broke when she had to break up fights in the hallways. This is unfathomable. That the children today cannot learn in a safe environment is scary. From elementary school through college, not one is safe anymore. And our family too has been touched by addiction and mental illness. More awareness needs to be brought to both.
Thank you for posting this. I promised myself today that I would no longer sit by and do nothing. I am getting involved in Moms Demand Action and Everytown for Gun Safety. There have to be solutions to this. Just wringing our hands is not enough. God works through our actions and it is time for moms to act. I have never been political before, but enough is enough. Our kids deserve better.
As a public school teacher in a middle school, I know how frightful it is to think that I may one day have to react to an active shooter situation where my kids are in peril. The really frustrating thing is that mental illness cannot be legislated away and mental health cannot be imposed on others. A quote I saw last night from one of the officials from the town or school system in Parkland that nailed it: If there was an easy fix, we’d already have it in place.
Amanda, I am so heartbroken for these families. Thank you for posting about this. I thought about writing a post but I just couldn’t put into words how I feel. This should not be happening. You are right – we live in the United States of America. School should be one of the safest places for children. I feel so helpless and am losing faith in the leaders of our country. I know there are no easy answers but SOMETHING has to be done. Praying for the families and praying for our country.
Shelley
Thank you for putting the spotlight on this. My mom will say it is nerf blasters & the love of shooting that aids this.
But she would never actually write her politician for change and thinks the mentally ill “need to get over it”
Anyway sorry to get political I really do appreciate you taking the time to address this. Thoughts and prayers with the families of the deceased.
Hi Amanda,
Vert well said and I can’t believe another school shooting has happened either.
I did see this article posted and thought I would share it with you. I guess it all depends on how you look at it, but there were really not 18 school shootings so far this year.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/no-there-havent-been-18-school-shooting-in-2018-that-number-is-flat-wrong/2018/02/15/65b6cf72-1264-11e8-8ea1-c1d91fcec3fe_story.html?utm_term=.e168c8a05585
In any case, this is still a problem that needs to be addressed by everyone in this country.
Hope you have a nice weekend!
Karen
Thank you for sharing! I had not read this.
I know this does not lessen the horror of what happened and the problem of school shootings in our country, but you mentioned the 18 school shootings and wanting to further inform yourself and I thought I would share this article to provide some context:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/no-there-havent-been-18-school-shooting-in-2018-that-number-is-flat-wrong/2018/02/15/65b6cf72-1264-11e8-8ea1-c1d91fcec3fe_story.html?utm_term=.a57861d219b8
Thank you for sharing. You are right – it doesn’t lessen the atrocity, but I am glad to know the facts.
Amanda,
My heart breaks for all the families and students involved in this senseless tragedy. I see why so many parents home school their children now. They cant trust the school system to ensure their safety. When a student has behavior issues such as this young man had that warrants expelling him from school that’s when ACTION needs to happen to get mental health services involved before something like this happens.
You feel the way a lot of us feel. No, there is no easy answer but we can at least start a dialogue. We have to start somewhere. Thank you for having the courage to speak up.
There have been more than 300 mass shootings in the United States in 2015, 2016, 2017 each. A mass shooting is any shooting in which four or more people are killed. That would include schools, workplaces, churches, etc. It’s appalling. While visiting the high school where my daughter teaches this morning I noticed just how happy and carefree each of the students entering the building seemed to be. I then thought about those students at Douglas High School and how they probably entered the school in much the same way I observed. Sadly, some never returned home and those who did are permanently scarred by what they experienced. In my opinion it’s up to the moms of this country to take on the cause of mental health care and much better gun control laws. There is discussion of a general strike day for students and adults. Students would not go to school and parents would not go to work. All would gather at a local government building in a way of showing their support for changes to current laws. I think it’s a wonderful idea and plan on participating if the discussion becomes reality.