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hate the news. I try to avoid it. When Modern Daddy and I sit down at the table with the paper I dive right into the Life & Style section. I read local interest articles, poke fun at celebrities, and laugh at Baby Blues in the comics. It's not that I am a head-in-the-sand type of person. I know that there are big bad things out there in the world, along with a plethora of little bad things and the occasional truly evil thing.Children, however, aren't born with this knowledge. They're born open books, waiting to accept whatever love and comfort will be offered. I am blessed in my life. My children are surrounded by a loving family. They have too much food, a big house, and too many toys. Evil, to them, comes in the form of Disney witches or robotic warriors. The good guys always win. I want to wrap them up in my arms and keep them frozen in time. I never want them to realize that's not always the case.
Today Modern Daddy and I were discussing the depressing reality of a little seven-year-old girl who was walking home from school and never made it. We were talking in parent-code, assuming that our children were too absorbed in their play to notice. So when Glitter Fairy Princess turned to me and asked, "What happened to the little girl, Mommy?" I had to look away. I couldn't meet her eyes when I told her the truth. "She got lost honey, but they found her." Because she didn't understand that there's a difference between "found" and "safe."
My heart mourns for that family. It mourns for the countless others who face tragedy every day. And a very, very selfish part of me mourns for the innocence that my children will lose when they learn the difference between those words.
In the meantime, I choose to reject reality. I will play princess dress-up with Glitter Fairy Princess and the biggest danger will be falling in our precarious high-heels. I will play Matchbox cars with Little Man and the only casualty of the crashes will be my dinged-up baseboards. I will read them fairy tales and make up stories and faithfully change the channel when the news comes on. I will pray with them for health and safety but also for joy and thanksgiving.
I know that soon Glitter Fairy Princess will see the world and the evil in it, and that Little Man will be right behind her. I just pray that the reality we create in our home will prevail. I hope that I'll be strong enough to hold their hands and calm their fears honestly. I just haven't figured out how yet.
4 comments:
yo, that gave me chills.
My girl is at the age where she is just starting to understand more things like the news for example. Just a couple days ago she informed me that "that boy on the computer crawled into a balloon that floated away." my jaw dropped seeing how I had no idea she had caught that story. That was an eye-opener for me.
I try so hard to shelter her from certain realities and yet still somethings slip through.
What an amazing post, Leigh. I also intend on keeping my kids in that blissful state of ignorance as long as I can. Life, sadly, will educate them before long about the harsh and ugly realities that surround us.
Now is the time for fairy princesses and matchbox cars. And you know... sometimes this adult enjoys getting lost in that pretend world with them, forgetting the sad heart of those - such as this family - who have had reality punch them in the face.
And my heart aches for them and the countless other families who have known such heartache. And selfishly I add... may this never stop at my door.
Dear Modern Mommy :)
I completely agree w/ you and love this post. As a journalism grad and former asst. editor of my hometown paper - I (sometimes) love news outlets, but plan on keeping them far, far, far away from our future kids (esp. today's brand of sensationalized, distorted crud...)
Where have integrity and ethics in journalism (or anything for that matter) gone? Oh wait, I know where they can start and be nurtured - at home! And we can also protect our children from news stories that will unnecessarily terrify them. However,as a pre-k teacher now, I know so many of my families allow their four and five year olds to watch the news on a regular bias!! So not age-appropriate, people!!! Ignorance can be bliss. Reality bites! I want to come and play w/ fairy princess and little guy! :)
Love, Victoria
Beautiful post, Leigh. I hope you keep that for the kiddos to read when they get older. It captures the amazingness that is a mama's love.
If I need to escape reality, can I come to your house to play princess and cars?
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