Mother's Notes: Another School Year
Yesterday, my sons returned to school after a long, lazy summer off. My oldest is beginning his first day
of Middle School (Junior High as some may call it). My youngest begins his last year of Elementary
School. For those who don’t know, my sons are just a year apart, so this is their first separation in five
years. But this is the second time in their lives that they have been separated, the first being when my
oldest went to First Grade, while the other stayed behind at a private Kindergarten. Needless to say
the current separation has caused some anxiety in my home for the past few weeks, and it was
strange to drop off each one at a different school and at different times yesterday morning. Also,
my oldest must make the scary transition to being a “big kid”: changing classes, no recess, and
remembering his locker combination. He even had a small panic attack when we pulled up in the
car line to drop him off, “Wait a minute, what do I do with my Trumpet, again!” I had to choke back my
tears to remain strong for my son, so my husband answered with, “You put it in your cubby in the band
room remember?” All I could answer is, “Be strong, you got this!” (But I was mostly talking to myself,
but we won’t let him know that.) I probably should tell you all that my both of my sons are small for
their age. So my pubescent oldest son going off to Middle School, where some of the 8th grade
14-year-olds can look 18, feeds into my anxiety of my son being bullied. (The fear coming from my
experience in childhood.) But I comfort myself with the fact that our school district is serious about
tackling it, unlike when I was in Middle School. Plus, both of my sons seem like more confident and
stronger humans than me. So I really believe that they will be ok. Until I watch the news and
remember.
of Middle School (Junior High as some may call it). My youngest begins his last year of Elementary
School. For those who don’t know, my sons are just a year apart, so this is their first separation in five
years. But this is the second time in their lives that they have been separated, the first being when my
oldest went to First Grade, while the other stayed behind at a private Kindergarten. Needless to say
the current separation has caused some anxiety in my home for the past few weeks, and it was
strange to drop off each one at a different school and at different times yesterday morning. Also,
my oldest must make the scary transition to being a “big kid”: changing classes, no recess, and
remembering his locker combination. He even had a small panic attack when we pulled up in the
car line to drop him off, “Wait a minute, what do I do with my Trumpet, again!” I had to choke back my
tears to remain strong for my son, so my husband answered with, “You put it in your cubby in the band
room remember?” All I could answer is, “Be strong, you got this!” (But I was mostly talking to myself,
but we won’t let him know that.) I probably should tell you all that my both of my sons are small for
their age. So my pubescent oldest son going off to Middle School, where some of the 8th grade
14-year-olds can look 18, feeds into my anxiety of my son being bullied. (The fear coming from my
experience in childhood.) But I comfort myself with the fact that our school district is serious about
tackling it, unlike when I was in Middle School. Plus, both of my sons seem like more confident and
stronger humans than me. So I really believe that they will be ok. Until I watch the news and
remember.
For the past few days, schools around the country are preparing to open their doors for the 2018-19
school year. For a lot of parents around our country, we all worry about the same things that seem
normal: bullying, starting a new school, school supplies (some of us worried about affording these.),
and other priorities that we all set for this time of year. But for the parents, who lost children in school
shootings, this time of year of is sorrowful. It is sad to hear their stories on the news or on social media
begging for our politicians and society to do something. My heart hurts for them, including parents of
the Sandy Hook child victims. They would all be one year ahead of my oldest son, facing 7th grade
in their part of the world. As my heart grieves for them, my head begins to turn selfish, and I worry
about my sons. A new school year beginning brings new dread. With all the political rhetoric, no one
has come with a new plan to keep our children safe.
school year. For a lot of parents around our country, we all worry about the same things that seem
normal: bullying, starting a new school, school supplies (some of us worried about affording these.),
and other priorities that we all set for this time of year. But for the parents, who lost children in school
shootings, this time of year of is sorrowful. It is sad to hear their stories on the news or on social media
begging for our politicians and society to do something. My heart hurts for them, including parents of
the Sandy Hook child victims. They would all be one year ahead of my oldest son, facing 7th grade
in their part of the world. As my heart grieves for them, my head begins to turn selfish, and I worry
about my sons. A new school year beginning brings new dread. With all the political rhetoric, no one
has come with a new plan to keep our children safe.
Since the mass shootings last year, many gun extremist have proposed arming teachers, with many
school staff members taking the opportunity to get training. Make no mistake, I do not want any of our
teachers carrying weapons around any children. What could go wrong? Actually a few things did go
wrong with this idea. A few teachers accidentally shot themselves (one in the leg), another one (at a
Florida school) left their gun in the school bathroom. (https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/04
/12/601871820/stoneman-douglas-teacher-is-arrested-after-leaving-gun-in-bathroom-stall). I don’t
blame the teachers for their fear. I get it. But the fear just helps the gun industry, doesn’t? So why
would the politicians who benefit from the gun lobbies want to help our children?
school staff members taking the opportunity to get training. Make no mistake, I do not want any of our
teachers carrying weapons around any children. What could go wrong? Actually a few things did go
wrong with this idea. A few teachers accidentally shot themselves (one in the leg), another one (at a
Florida school) left their gun in the school bathroom. (https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/04
/12/601871820/stoneman-douglas-teacher-is-arrested-after-leaving-gun-in-bathroom-stall). I don’t
blame the teachers for their fear. I get it. But the fear just helps the gun industry, doesn’t? So why
would the politicians who benefit from the gun lobbies want to help our children?
All I am, and others like me, are asking for is gun reform that includes strict regulations, accountability,
identification, and insurance requirements. I am not sure why that seems so radical to anyone to ask
for these things. I am not sure why semi-automatic bans seem radical or irrational to some gun
advocates. I understand that it may seem like a “slippery slope” that banning one type might lead to all
being banned. Very few Americans would advocate for such, but most Americans would not support
an overall ban on all guns. As a gun reformer, I do not favor banning certain guns and then threatening
those gun owners with fines for not turning them in, like they did in Deerfield, Illinois.
(https://abc7chicago.com/politics/deerfield -gun-ban-blocked-by-judge/3597699/). Which ended up
being blocked by a judge, pending legislation on the constitutionality of the ordinance. The right
intention was there, but a better plan would to be grandfathering in of present owners of these types
of guns, and offer a voluntary buy-back program, which some communities do. Maybe I should take
this to my city representatives with this idea. (Note on calendar.) Is that too radical for some owners?
Or is this an all or none game? For me, it means a lot of innocent lives.
identification, and insurance requirements. I am not sure why that seems so radical to anyone to ask
for these things. I am not sure why semi-automatic bans seem radical or irrational to some gun
advocates. I understand that it may seem like a “slippery slope” that banning one type might lead to all
being banned. Very few Americans would advocate for such, but most Americans would not support
an overall ban on all guns. As a gun reformer, I do not favor banning certain guns and then threatening
those gun owners with fines for not turning them in, like they did in Deerfield, Illinois.
(https://abc7chicago.com/politics/deerfield -gun-ban-blocked-by-judge/3597699/). Which ended up
being blocked by a judge, pending legislation on the constitutionality of the ordinance. The right
intention was there, but a better plan would to be grandfathering in of present owners of these types
of guns, and offer a voluntary buy-back program, which some communities do. Maybe I should take
this to my city representatives with this idea. (Note on calendar.) Is that too radical for some owners?
Or is this an all or none game? For me, it means a lot of innocent lives.
Before I conclude, everyone who reading this should know that I consider myself fortunate. My
husband and I have worked hard to give our sons a middle class lifestyle. But for some in the country,
and especially in my state’s major city, the summer did not bring relief from gun violence for their
children. Even though they were not victims of one tragic mass school shooting, a great deal of
children died over the summer break due to gun violence. As of today, I counted 26 children killed by
gun violence, among the dead children are a baby, one-year-old, and two-year-old. So much for the
sanctity of life (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking
husband and I have worked hard to give our sons a middle class lifestyle. But for some in the country,
and especially in my state’s major city, the summer did not bring relief from gun violence for their
children. Even though they were not victims of one tragic mass school shooting, a great deal of
children died over the summer break due to gun violence. As of today, I counted 26 children killed by
gun violence, among the dead children are a baby, one-year-old, and two-year-old. So much for the
sanctity of life (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking
/ct-chicago-homicides-data-tracker-htmlstory.html#). And watching the morning news just this morning
(8-17-18), a 15-year-old died last night, so that makes my count 27 under the age of 17 since
January 2018.
(8-17-18), a 15-year-old died last night, so that makes my count 27 under the age of 17 since
January 2018.
I may have counted wrong, these children have been killed by sociopaths of all ages. Also, this
doesn’t include any child dying at the hands of any sociopaths who carries both a badge and a gun.
A fact that I am fascinated about is that the CDC (Center for Disease Control) is no longer to use taxpayer
money to fund research of gun violence in the United States, see “Dickey Amendment”. The Dickey
Amendment was passed in 1995 at behest of the NRA and other gun lobby groups, as these extremist
felt that the CDC would use their findings and become governmental “gun control advocates.” In
March 2018, a line in recent budget gave hope to once again the CDC to do so once again. Hopefully,
this change comes soon, as we need to realize how “sick” we all might be in our society.
doesn’t include any child dying at the hands of any sociopaths who carries both a badge and a gun.
A fact that I am fascinated about is that the CDC (Center for Disease Control) is no longer to use taxpayer
money to fund research of gun violence in the United States, see “Dickey Amendment”. The Dickey
Amendment was passed in 1995 at behest of the NRA and other gun lobby groups, as these extremist
felt that the CDC would use their findings and become governmental “gun control advocates.” In
March 2018, a line in recent budget gave hope to once again the CDC to do so once again. Hopefully,
this change comes soon, as we need to realize how “sick” we all might be in our society.
America, we have a violence problem. We have societal issues that devolve into the murder of
innocence. Our future generations will pay the price, just like our endless wars will cost them. Again
if the suggestion I have hurt your guns-at-all costs feelings, too bad. The above gun reforms are not
radical, but seem sensible and fair. For as time goes by without any real solutions, the more radical
I will become…just a promise. In the meantime, I will continue to go the civil route and continue to
advocate passing sensible gun reforms with our politicians and meet you all half way.
innocence. Our future generations will pay the price, just like our endless wars will cost them. Again
if the suggestion I have hurt your guns-at-all costs feelings, too bad. The above gun reforms are not
radical, but seem sensible and fair. For as time goes by without any real solutions, the more radical
I will become…just a promise. In the meantime, I will continue to go the civil route and continue to
advocate passing sensible gun reforms with our politicians and meet you all half way.
