There has been a lot of tragedy in the news lately and most of it has been local. In the past two weeks 2 kids have drowned in their back yards and a baby fell out of a window. And every time I read these stories my heart stops and I double check the locks on our back door that lead to the pool. I yell for Jackson and I hug him close and I fight back tears.
I know I shouldn’t read these stories, the same way I shouldn’t read stories about gun violence or mass murders, but like a moth to a flame I go. And every story I read I scroll down to the comments section and there they are among the “so sorry for your loss” and the “praying for your family” is the “what morons, why weren’t they watching their child” or “what kind of mother lets her kid drown” or “how completely careless, they shouldn’t have children”.
And as I read these comments I get angry. I can’t help but put myself in these parents shoes. I can only imagine how heartbroken and angry they must be with themselves. How their lives must be filled with blame for themselves, for their spouse, for life, for god.
My first thought when I hear these stories is “there but for the grace of god go I”.
I think of all those moments in life when I am distracted, when it’s not physically possible to watch a child every second. That life happens. Phones ring, other children need attention, dinners need cooking. I know it’s easy to forget to lock a door or to wonder if the gate clicked into place. I know that we can’t safe guard everything. That we can’t place our children in a bubble. That sometimes things break, kids fall, accidents happen.
These tragedies are accidents. And I’m sure these parents place enough blame on themselves, so they don’t need the extra blame, all they need is support.
It seems like any time anything like this happens, the morons come out with their "don't you know you have to watch your child" comments. And yes, we do have to watch them. But it's impossible to watch your kids every single second. You can put additional safety measures in place(fences and locks and such), but it's impossible to always have an eye on your kids and these things(unfortunately) only take a minute to happen.
You are exactly right Shell they do only take a minute and it's impossible to watch every second.
Sometimes the news is just too unbearable to watch. Isn't it?
Yes it is, which is why I try to avoid watching it.
I feel so heartbroken for these families – and when you DO watch your children like a hawk, then you are faulted for being too controlling/cautious/stifling. In the parent wars, no one ever comes out a winner. Let's just provide the support these families will need…
Heather you are exactly right and I have been picked on for being too controlling and too cautious even when I have thought I haven't been.
I hate when I hear stories about kids getting hurt, or worse 🙁 And those mean commenters are awful. I don't get it. The family is suffering enough.
Yes exactly.
Sadly, things happen within a blink of an eye and it's scary!
Yes it really is scary.
Oh, how I adore this post! You are such a loving merciful soul, and I am so deeply touched by this beautiful message you share! AMEN to this!
Thank you!!!