Category: Being a Mom

Like all of you, I’m sure, I’m having a hard time thinking of anything besides what happened in Connecticut on Friday. Well, what happened, and what on God’s earth we can do to stop it from happening again.

I wish I had the answers. Actually, I don’t need the answers – I just need someone to have the answers. And so far, it doesn’t seem like anyone does.

There’s one thing I keep seeing over and over – although I may be overestimating the frequency with which I see it because it bothers me so much – is the idea that if we all just had guns, we’d be good to go. If only teachers had access to weapons, they could stop these things. If we had armored guards at the door to every school building, our kids would be safer.

Here’s the thing. We have a word for a situation in which everyone is armed.

It’s called war.

And you know what? That might be the easiest solution, the most immediate solution.

But it’s not good enough.

“Protecting” our kids by making sure their kindergarten teachers have assault rifles? No thanks. That’s not good enough for my kids, and I don’t think it’s good enough for anyone.

(And where in the world would we get the money for that, anyway? Our schools have no money. Parents – and teachers themselves, more often than not – have to buy the freaking tissues. But that is a topic for another day.)

The problem is deeper than that. It’s more complicated than that. We’ve got to take a hard look at our society and start placing a priority on gun control, mental healthcare, parenting resources – the list goes on. We’ve got to change our society. That’s no easy task, but now, in the wake of this horrific tragedy that’s captured the attention of our nation, is the time.

As I said before, I don’t have the answers. I don’t even know all the things I can do personally to make these changes, but I am going to keep searching. One thing I have done, though, is sign the petition put together by MomsRising.org calling for common sense gun regulations.

Here’s what it says.

We are beyond heartbroken as we think of the many young children and adults that died in Connecticut. This is the 16th mass shooting in our nation this year.

We are parents. Many NRA members are parents. And none of us want to live in a nation where children are gunned down. Now is the time for the NRA and for Congress to step up and start proposing laws that protect children and all people.

That’s not too much to ask, is it? For the people we have placed our faith in and voted into office to propose laws to prevent children from being gunned down? It is common sense.

I think this is something we all need to talk about, and I encourage each of you to leave a comment on this post so we can get a conversation started here on this little corner of the internet. Together, we can make a difference.

We’re moms. We can do anything, right?

Ah, my lovely children. Pretty cute, don’t ya think?

They are driving me bonkers lately!

First let me say that there is little I love more than seeing them play together or hearing them laugh together.

I just wish those moments came more often, and lasted more than three minutes.

Because they are driving me bonkers with the bickering!

Sam is not blameless in all of this, but at the moment at least, the biggest issue is Kate picking on him. He can’t do anything right! Last night I actually heard her tell him how to swallow his spit in a way she doesn’t find offensive. I have lost count of how many times I have said “Stop terrorizing your brother!” I truly do not know what is so appealing to her about upsetting him.

She might be a sociopath.

Ok that is taking it a little far, but I am seriously at a loss. Is this normal sibling behavior? How can I make it stop? Are they going to get along?

I just want them to love each other, dammit!