One month ago, I dropped D off at school and went into his school's parent group meeting. Afterward, my best friend came over with her daughter for a play date. We talked politics (we are both strong Democrats in a blindingly red state), we laughed, and gossiped. It was a good day. Later, she called me in tears and told me about the 20 children and six adults that were killed in Newtown, Conneticut.
Before I had children, tragedies never affected me deeply. September 11 scared me, but I didn't feel connected to it. It just didn't sink in. But this time was different. I spent a week looking at those sweet little angels' pictures, sobbing for their mothers, and trying not to imagine what their last moments were like.
Today I am grateful for my two boys. That they are here with me. I can only hope that when I send them to school, they come back to me. Sometimes I am terrified of the world I brought my kids into. So today, I will read one more story, snuggle one more time, and be grateful for them. They are my whole heart.
I will also promise not to abstain from the gun control debate. After September 11, air travel changed. Suddenly there were metal detectors, shoe removal, and 3 oz limits on liquids to ensure air travel was safe. Now, there must be changes to our gun laws. An assault weapons ban, limited magazine clips, universal background checks, mental health checks, proof of safe storage, and liability insurance are a good start. For our children. For us.
http://onemillionmomsforguncontrol.org/
http://www.bradycampaign.org/
http://newtownmemorialfund.org/
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