I often feel out of step with today’s society, for many reasons. However, I’m very aware that there’s a wave of willful blindness regarding what the future may hold for our children.
I don’t want to be an alarmist here; I’m simply sharing the realization I’ve had—I’ve taken my head out of the sand.
Several issues are catching my attention these days: bullying (cyber or otherwise), assaults, inequality, social pressure… Of course, I was always on the lookout for anything that might be a “threat” to me, but suddenly everything took on a massive scale. I turned on the TV at a time when I never usually do. Naturally, I stumbled upon a show that turned my world upside down. In that moment, I shattered the rose-colored bubble carrying a golden unicorn toward the wonderful future my children should have.
Ever since my first daughter was born, I’ve always kept in mind just how full of wonderful things the future holds for her—how she’ll be able to do great things to save the world. However, as I watched that show, I started to feel afraid—a real mother’s fear for her little treasures.
What if I were the one putting pressure on my children’s shoulders, pushing them to accomplish great things, when all I want is for them to be happy and fulfilled? What if my daughter were the victim of an assault? What if my son were being bullied—or, worse yet, were the bully himself? Would I even realize their distress—that they might be suffering from depression or contemplating suicide? I started to fear that I wouldn’t be up to the task.
So I decided to stop burying my head in the sand and to prepare myself, slowly but surely, for whatever might happen. I decided that my children wouldn’t be alone, no matter what they might have to go through. I decided that, when they’re old enough to understand all those big, heavy words, I’ll talk to them about everything. I’m going to tell them everything so they’ll know how to stand up for themselves, so they’ll have the tools they need to face the good, but especially the not-so-good. If they have the wonderful life that my dreams predict for them, perhaps they’ll be the ones to help young victims. Perhaps they’ll be the ones who’ll finally get us to stop burying our heads in the sand.