Celebrating 25 years of motherhood, day 20 - safety.

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Day 20, safety.

This year and today marks 25th anniversary of the columbine high school shooting. 

My first born was only a few days old when we saw the drama unfold on TV. My dad was visiting us at the time. That was the first time he had heard of mass school shootings. 

As new parents, we were afraid, we could not see that far into the future. But we were hopeful. This is the United States of America, the number one country in the world. How can this be? It is just one time thing. 

 But alas! We were wrong. They kept happening. Each time they were given a name, everyone talked about them until it was the next one. Each time you held your children tight close to your heart. 

 Nothing has changed. This is one thing that has caused me many sleepless nights and continues to do so. My first born is twenty-five years old. We now live in the times where moms of dark-skinned boys have to a have a talk with their sons before they leave the house. My children are dark skinned.

 There were times when I just could not breathe. The children and I went to the protests, we just could not sit at home. Not having grown up here was not an excuse anymore. I had to educate myself about a lot of things; the racial, gender bias, I had to change my perspective, my thinking. I am extremely thankful to my children for opening my eyes, for making me a better person than I was. We cannot be indifferent to what is happening around us. Get involved, be involved.

Today, as I look back on 25 years since Columbine, I'm reminded that change is possible, but it requires each of us to do our part. 

This post is in honor of thousands of innocent lives lost to gun violence.

                                                                                                                                    


                                                                           

                                                                    

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