Re: Talking to my kids about the Amish School Shooting

I am a mother of three amazing, wonderful, curious, innocent children. I want them to stay that way. You know that as a family- we do not have a TV. I don't feel that my children need to be constantly bombarded with what is in the media today. The last few days are a glaring example.

Yet- I cannot bury my head in the sand. I cannot let them be ignorant of how to stay safe. I cannot take the chance of them hearing about this horrific incident from anyone else but me.

Here are just a few of the sites I found that are supposed to help us with talking to our kids about what happened in Pennsylvania and the war in Iraq- about violence in general. It is imperative that we do so. We can no longer think that moving to the country, putting them in a small school, anything... can shield them from a POSSIBLE harm.

http://www.kidspeace.org/
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/061002/nym175.html?.v=59
http://www.pbs.org/parents/talkingwithkids/war/questions.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15109195/

video- http://video.msn.com/v/us/msnbc.htm?g=fa159036-e5e1-4b76-911f-fc3088bf7302&f=00&fg=copy

I broached the subject with them this morning. I generalized the options that could be taken if a "bad stranger" came into their schoolroom. It is not enough. I will be sitting down with them and speak VERY CLEARLY.

I took a self defense class when I worked at the District Attorney's Office. The instructor said that children are often hurt when their parents are RIGHT BY THEIR SIDE. The children don't want to leave their parents. He said that there should be a "code word" given to the children that means RUN away and hide or find a policeman or store clerk while the parent deals with the mugger, car jacker etc. So often kids are hurt b/c they don't know how to get AWAY. I can say this is true. Like I said- I worked at the District Attorney's office.

Don't ever think that YOU will be able to protect your children totally. They need to be prepared, not scared to death but prepared. Homeschooling is a wonderful option for education but people break into homes too. Take the time to talk to your kids. They are just as scared as you are about this- they need you.