One week. One week ago, I was writing a Valentine’s Day post for my two teens about love. I was telling them to embrace life and love every situation – good and bad. I was letting them know that their entire future is in front of them. I was recommending that they jump into every opportunity with both feet and make the most of every minute.
One week. I can’t even begin to understand how mundane and simple and normal my week was compared to those seventeen families from Parkland, FL.
I found myself learning about things I never thought I should and coming up with questions that we all need to ask ourselves.
Thursday, February 15 – I woke up still numb after hearing about the school shooting in Florida. I wanted to think about something else. I attended an early morning seminar on drinking and drugs in schools hosted by a local school resource and police officer, Michelle Palladini. The topic was changed. We talked about school safety. I learned things I never thought I would hear – how today’s teachers are trained to set up their classrooms so that they can move their desks and flip over bookcases to easily barricade their doors if an active shooter is on school grounds … how teachers are told to identify strong students in their classrooms so they can use their strength to help barricade doors if that time is needed … how each classroom is outfitted with Go Buckets (door wedges, bungie cords, etc. to use to prevent doors opening from the outside) ….
Is this what we want our teachers to be thinking about?
Is this the teaching environment we want our students to be in?
Friday, February 16 – I wanted to make sure my teens’ high school was doing everything it could do to keep my kids safe if, God forbid, a school shooting occurred on the campus. I emailed the principal with information I learned on Thursday and he assured me that they had a plan in place. Two years ago, they had active shooter training at the school. They, too, had Go Buckets in each classroom.
Do we really want our 15, 16, 17, 18-year old kids to be conditioned to accept gun violence and mental health issues as the norm?
Saturday, February 17 – I was introduced via the news to survivors from Stoneman Douglas, demanding action. These students who had just been through the most traumatic events in their lives, were speaking out about gun violence and mental health issues. I learned about the March for Our Lives event on March 24.
Were we forced to think about gun violence and mental health when we were 15, 16, 17 or 18?
Sunday, February 18 – I felt compelled to attend the March 24 event in D.C. and to get others to join me. I shared it on social channels and invited friends via text. I asked one friend to join me with her two teens. I immediately received this reply: “Absolutely!” A short time later, she said she spoke to her daughters and they were afraid to go to D.C. to participate in a peaceful march. They didn’t want to get shot while they were there.
Is that the type of world we want our teens to be raised in – fearful for their lives when they feel strongly and want to speak out?
Fearful for their lives when they want to go on a first date to a movie?
Fearful for their lives when they want to hang out with friends at the mall?
Fearful for their lives when they go to eat at a local restaurant?
Fearful for their lives when they go to church?
Fearful for their lives when they go to school?
Sunday morning – I watched ABC News and listened to more survivors from Parkland, FL. I continued to share everything I could on social media about the shooting and the powerfully strong, young survivors and their fight for #neveragain. I watched in horror and disbelief as students explained in detail where they were during the shooting — hiding in closets and classrooms. How they lost their best friends. What they witnessed firsthand.
Is that the typical day we want our kids to have when they run out the door in the morning late for school with a bagel in one hand and a backpack in the other?
Monday, February 19 – I posted everything I could, sharing the anger and momentum and powerful movement I was feeling boiling up from mothers and fathers and teachers and students. I shared a post from Scott-Dani Pappalardo and his #oneless act of sawing his legal rifle in half.
Do we, as parents, have the guts to make a statement equally as strong as his in an effort to keep our kids safe?
Tuesday, February 20 – My memory of a simple family discussion keeps coming to mind. I didn’t feel like cooking. One daughter wanted to go to Red Robin, the other, Panera. My husband wanted to take the dog for a walk. We spent 45 minutes trying to figure out what to do. We argued and laughed. Some of us may have even complained and stomped around complaining how hungry we were! We finally decided to split up and eat at different places.
Don’t we all want to continue to have silly, stupid ridiculous family moments like these with our kids?
There are 17 families in Florida and countless others in Colorado, Connecticut, etc. who would love to be able to do that, but they can’t.
One week. I’m convinced of the following:
It’s a gun safety issue…
It’s a mental health issue…
It’s a parenting issue…
It’s an FBI issue…
It’s a government issue…
It’s a policing issue…
It’s a school issue…
It’s my issue … It’s your issue … It’s an American issue…
Now, what are we going to do about it?!
Here are just a few of the resources I’ve found this week. Hopefully you will click on one below and be empowered to help make change — like the strong, powerful kids in Parkland, FL, are doing:
March For Our Lives March 24 Washington, DC
CNN Town Hall with Stoneman Douglas Students
Change.org National High School Walk-Out for Anti-Gun Violence – April 20
How to Raise a Sweet Son in an Era of Angry Men
Thank you! I hope it empowers others to speak out to protect our kids.
Yo go girl!. This is your most powerful post ever!