Centered

I am tired.

I am exhausted.

I am angry.

I am at a loss for words. While I search for words of solace and comfort, I come up empty.

Columbine, Sandy Hook, Marjory Stoneman, Robb Elementary… names of schools, sites of unspeakable carnage. And, sadly there are hundreds more like them.

Yesterday, 19 parents sent their second-, third-, and fourth-graders off to school. Undoubtedly, there were hugs and kisses mixed with reminders of pick-up times and after-school activities, plans for summer break, and the anticipation of a new grade level.

We offer our thoughts and prayers and, yet, as a nation we do nothing. We won’t invest in mental health. We won’t pass legislation that might address this violence. We won’t provide our schools with the resources to meet the needs of all our kids. All we have are thoughts and prayers. 

Two of the victims were teachers. I do not know of a teacher who wouldn’t put their body in front of their students, their kids. They will shield your children but yet we don’t trust them to make curricular and educational decisions. We need to have the courage to address the real issues around student well-being. 

There are 21 families that are undergoing unimaginable suffering. My heart aches for them. My heart aches for these schools. My heart aches for the survivors. 

Today was every teacher’s nightmare, every parent’s nightmare. 

I am at a loss for words. I won’t even offer my thoughts and prayers. What I will do is continue to speak up and use my voice.

Schools should be sacred places. They are places where hopes and dreams are nurtured. They are places where anything is possible. The hopes and dreams of 21 young people were extinguished yesterday. 

When will we say enough is enough?