Yesterday I received news that would change my 17 year old daughter's life forever...her 14 year old cousin was shot and killed at his home. The devastating news tore a hole in my heart. A 14 year old child killed by gun violence, parents who will never see their son again, and a 17 year old who lost a cousin and now must cope with the reality that gun violence is real.
Speculations about the incident being the result of gang activity, assumptions about drug activity, and accusations that this is the consequence of bad parenting surged Facebook when the news headlines broke. While I consoled my child who I tried my best to keep sheltered from this very moment. There are no words that I could say to make it easier. My heart literally left my body as I stared into my child's eyes. The look she gave me said one thing, "Why?" I would never be able to explain to her why it happened and I was relieved she didn't ask. That was a question I asked myself over and over again and still didn't have an answer. I have done my best as a single mom to raise my child to make wise decisions, not to follow the crowd, and to always think about the consequences of her actions. Yes, I sheltered her from a world that would leave her confused and heartbroken, but at the end of the day, I couldn't protect her from what our city has become. She will eventually heal. I did make an appointment with our therapist, but then what happens next? Will this become a cycle? Has violence become such a regular part of our community that even my daughter who I have protected from this lifestyle will become like so many of her friends who have learned that gun violence is just part of a daily routine? Friends who are now so used to this that they have become emotionless kids whose only response is to make a R.I.P. post on Facebook? I pray it isn't. It does make me hold her a little closer, tell her I love her a little more, and strive everyday to show her and her sister beauty in a world that has become so ugly. Stay prayed up ya'll XOXO
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