First of all, I must thank you for all of the support you sent my way regarding the post I wrote on Saturday about the Stigma Surrounding Mental Health. For every comment you saw beneath that post, and on my MNAB & personal facebook page... I received twice as many personal emails. I felt like the internet gave the hubs & me a big fat virtual hug for sharing our incredibly personal story.
I am grateful for the positive impact, and I am grateful for the tears that were shed as I read some of your heartfelt responses… and I hope my post on Mental Health continues to spread far & wide. If you didn’t share that post, or if you missed reading it over the weekend, I would really appreciate it if you could pass it on, retweet it and/or post it onto your own facebook page… it’s not about stats, SEO, likes, or anything remotely close to that. I truly believe that sharing this post could quite possibly save someone you love.
Now that I got that out of my system… let’s move forward to today.
Today, as I sent my 2nd grader off to school, I did my best to hold back tears as I hugged her goodbye.
I failed.
I balled my eyes out as soon as she closed the door.
But… I didn’t want her to see me break down.
I wasn’t ready to answer the question of “why?” yet.
I don’t normally keep things from my children. I refused to lie to them about what’s going on in the world. I grew up feeling very naive, and I don’t want my children to feel that way either.
But… the events on Friday aren’t something I’m ready to talk to my children about… unless they ask.
I don’t want them to fear going to school.
I still have one more child to send to school this afternoon… my 4 1/2 year old preschooler.
Her classroom is at the main entrance of the school.
I have no doubt she will be safe at school. Along with a priority for a well-rounded education, we also sought out a school with a very secure environment.
Yet… I can’t help but put myself into the shoes of the Sandy Hook parents.
The parents who also felt secure sending their children to school Friday.
I know I am not alone with my thoughts, prayers, fears & tears… and I will have to have faith that, like the rest of the fearful, and okay, overly paranoid parents in the country, I will see my children again at 3:10p today.
And while I wait impatiently for 3:10p to hit, I will likely meet the hubs for a lunch-beer after I drop off my preschooler. Sometimes, ya gotta put a little alcohol on it. #thereIsaidit
Peace.
