As of nine am this morning another teen has found no other resolution to his troubles than to to kill. He apparently entered his school cafeteria at breakfast time and opened fire. So far one has died and four are injured.
Those are the details so far. But what astounds me, and scares the living day lights out of me, is the reality of it all.
Just a few hours ago their families were whole and now they are not. One mom and dad sent their kid to school this morning never to get him back again. And others are sitting in hospitals waiting for news on how the rest of their lives will play out.
As I sit here I think about my own Kindergartener in a classroom less than a mile away from me.
Did I kiss him Good-Bye?
Did I tell him I love him?
Yes, but does he really know it?
Does he remember me holding him tight in my arms ’til he fell asleep last night?
And worse yet, will I be sitting here one morning when it happens in his (or any one of my children’s) school?
Will they know to hide? Run? Stay clear of the shots?
Or the absolute of tragedies.
Will one of them be so lost in confusion, rage, and growing pains that violence seems the only way out?
Because, it is not just the victim’s families that lost something today. Although their loss may be more immediate and out of the blue.
The shooters parents, guardians, or caregivers lost someone too.
And while it may have started sometime ago. Obvious or not. Because of them or in spite of, I do not know.
But, it ended this morning with the issue of shots.
photocredit: lel4nd
It is so true we never think about the parents of the shooter. So sad all around.
I don’t know when it started (maybe with Columbine?) but I’ve always tried to think about the parents of the shooter/killer as well. I try to force myself not to think they sat idly by why their child(ren) sent signals. I believe that signals are always sent, but I decided not to judge them for not having seen them (or acted on them, or not acting on them enough). Today when I saw the ticker on CNN I turned the TV off. And immediately back on. Because I won’t turn a blind eye. I won’t. There are children suffering and we have GOT to find better ways at helping them before they get to the point of thinking violence is the only answer.
I never even gave it too much thought. But then I read an interview with Dylan Kleibold’s mother. And she seemed so much more normal than I ever expected. And in mourning not just for her own son, but the children he killed and the signs she may or may not have missed.
I’ve never understood why kids or even adults do things like this and I’m not sure that I ever will.
Something must have snapped in them & caused them to just forget all sense of right and wrong I suppose…. regardless it is very sad for everyone involved.