Warning – this may not be that funny. I was going to write a wildly insightful and witty post about the difference between moms and dads, but I’m going to save it for when my sense of humor comes back. Because after what happened in Colorado over the weekend, I’m not feeling very jokey.
I’ve been thinking about this for the past couple of days – we live in a world that’s wonderful and amazing 90% of the time, but that other 10% where the demons get in – my God. I try my best to keep SB (small boy) safe – slathering on the sunscreen; buckling him into a car seats that looks like it belongs on the space shuttle; baby proofing our house so no one can ever open a door or a cabinet again without an engineering degree; flame resistant pajamas; organic food, and the list goes on and on.
But, and this is a big one – how do you keep them safe from delusional madmen who shoot up movie theaters, or schools, or whatever the insane voices in their heads are telling them? And how do you teach them to not talk to strangers without turning them into fearful, paranoid people? How do you tell them that the world is a wonderful place, full of fantastic things to explore, great people to meet, interesting places to go, but that there’s a small percentage of people out there that are hell bent on hurting other people?
My heart shattered for the victims in Colorado, and their families – but also for the parents of the crazy guy who opened fire. Can you imagine? The debate about gun control will rage on forever, and I’m not going there, but how, HOW, was that guy able to buy 6,000 rounds of ammunition on the internet? It’s mind-boggling. I’m not good at feeling helpless, but how do you keep your kids and loved ones safe in a world where crazy people can buy whatever they want online? It makes the sunscreen and car seats seem so feeble and pathetic in comparison.
If anyone has any answers, I’d love to hear them. In the meantime, I’ll keep the faith and maybe squeeze SB a little tighter. And give someone you love a hug. It can’t hurt.
Amused Mama 
You talk to them, you expose them to the good and to the bad, to the saints and to the truly evil. Read the paper to them and with them and let them know what is going on in the world around. Talk to them about the silent majority…that huge portion of humanity who abides by the rules…and the minority that gets all the press because evil sells. Talk to them about how we're different but similar, and how there are those who believe they are right and everyone else is wrong. Tell them not to judge (lest they be judged) and to question everything around them.I know SB is going to be fine because I know his mother. And in knowing his mother I have a sense about his father and I think BG and BB will do fine in raising SB. Good luck.