When Trying to Answer “Why” During a Tragedy

Why does this have to happen and why to those innocent children?

As a mother, I cannot even bare to think of the answer to such questions. I so deeply wish that it were never a question at all. The “Why’s” during a tragedy are too difficult for my heart to grasp.

Life will always have “Why’s.” The majority of those “Why’s” will have an easy solution. Then there are the “Why’s” when a tragedy occurs. How do we go about answering these “Why’s” when we ourselves can not even wrap our minds around them?

How does something like Wednesday even occur? Why would something so horrendous even be contemplated?! I sit here asking myself these questions over and over again as I watch my school-aged children attempt to do their homework.

When trying to answer “Why?”

Maybe it is an instinct in me that believes if I can answer those questions, maybe I would be able to prevent it from occurring again. The thought of it occurring at my own children’s school puts a sickening feeling deep in my gut, one that I can’t even describe. My heart hurts so deeply for those parents of children who were involved in the recent and past school shootings.

We shouldn’t have to worry about our children going to school to learn. We shouldn’t have to hear about our kindergartners, or any student for that matter, having to learn safety protocols in case there were a violent intruder on their school campus. Teachers shouldn’t have to worry about what they are going to do if something were to happen at their very school.

These things that “shouldn’t” be are our reality now. They are our children’s reality.

Again, I go back to those “Why” questions.

I believe that there is not just one solution or answer to those “Why’s” during a tragedy. Could there be more safety measures on school campuses? Maybe educators could be more trained to notice if a student were to seem “off?” Could a parent be more involved with their child to notice if something seemed “off” about them? Could we as a society try even harder to end bullying that could trigger an individual to do such horrendous crimes?

There are so many possible solutions we could all try and push. I am hopeful that today will be the day that we all come together to find a solution to answering the “Why?” that has us all shaken when it comes to our schools. Hopefully, we will sooner, rather than later, truly start focusing on the “What?” that will answer all our “Why’s.”

As for this momma, I will squeeze my children tighter and anxiously wait for that school bus to bring them home each school day until we do.

Clair
Clair is a former science teacher turned stay at home mommy to 3 kids, Ryleigh (6), Brady (5) and Chloe (1). She is originally from Mississippi and moved to Louisiana after meeting her husband at Mississippi College. She can’t imagine living anywhere else now. The culture here in Louisiana is the best: from the great food to cheering on the LSU Tigers. Her background in science has her loving to incorporate all things science while at home with her kids. This has led her to the world of blogging! Her blog, The Sprouting Minds, includes all things ‘mommy’ as well as those engaging kid activities. She hopes she can spread the love of science to other families as well as encourage mothers along the way.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here