I am a mother of a Sandy Hook graduate. He graduated quite a few years ago, but knew of a few lost. He now lives in a town that is filled with constant reminders. Car magnets, copper stars, comfort dogs, memorials and talk. It is a town filled with debates on where a new Sandy Hook School should be built and where; schools where the between bells are turned off between classes because parents believe it is too upsetting for their children; neighborhoods in disarray because some families are noisier than others and moving forward quicker than most and being accused of insensitivity. We have newly formed organizations that represent Newtown as a whole, but never asked if we all feel the way they do. We leave our little town only to be confronted with debates of gun control as that is what we are known for now. In Newtown, we have gun owners, members of the NRA, and those who hunt. We have gun carrying police officers, those who collect guns, and those who simply choose to own a gun. Yes, we have gun owners and have always had gun owners, and yes, we still have gun owners. I have sat back these past few months and seen special events … and there were many: the Bruins, the Giants, Nickelodeon, our children at the Super Bowl, Sandy Hook T-shirts being sold at every event, non-profit after non-profit asking for more donations though emails and sad stories. I have seen debates on who gets what, warehouses of toys being issued in very organized long lines to our children who generally have so much more than most. I have seen thoughts, prayers, and well wishes from across the world. I have also had enough. I want my town back. I want all kids to feel free to be a kid. If they want to experience a cap gun, firework display or paintball war … they should have that right. If they want to ride a dirt bike or throw rocks in a stream, they should have that right. If they hear a car backfire, or a school bell sound … I am going to make damn sure mine knows it is just life … not the evil one. If I don’t do this for my child, then who will? Life won’t stop for them, accommodate them, or be aware of them outside of Sandy Hook. Of course, there are children who have been deeply affected. These children need special attention and intense counseling as well as their parents so that they know how to move their children forward. Newtown has always been a community of children, and we need to do what is best for them as a whole. Stop coddling, stop worrying, stop gossiping, stop reliving the details, stop overanalyzing and stop preventing Newtown’s children from being children. Kids are noisy, boisterous, adventurous, risky, and most of all kids. Stop denying them what is theirs! Don’t let him win. Let your kids live their lives instead of being afraid of it. Moving on doesn’t mean anything is forgotten. It means their memories were not lost in vain, and that LIFE wins.
Posted on: Mon, 09 Sep 2013 01:59:45 +0000
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