Moms Talk: The Chardon School Shootings

Each week the Mentor Patch Moms Council answers a question on parenthood posed to them by readers or another member of council.

This week's question: I would like to ask how these school shootings affect families. Knowing that these tragedies occur but that they are uncommon, do you worry about your kids' and grandkids' safety at school?

And what do you tell them when something like this happens?

Gloria Kilfoyle:

Two of my young granddaughters attend Chardon Schools.

This has been a very upsetting week for their parents, their children, and all the people of Chardon.

The girls did see the shootings on television Monday morning since the TV was on and they knew that, because of what was happening, they would have no school. The first grade child does not really understand what has happened, but the fifth grade girl does, to some extent.

I thought the superintendent gave some very good advice -- talk to your children, explain, and answer their questions. This is what my son and daughter-in-law are doing plus they are attending the various chuch services with their daughters.

Attending the church services and seeing friends there seems to be giving them the greatest help, comfort, and relief.

This is not the America that I knew when I was growing up and I feel so badly that our children today will not know that other America.

Let us all pray for the families who lost their children and all the people of Chardon who need the comfort from the Lord.

Devone Lansing:

I worry about my children's safety all the time, and we !

In light of this morning's events, I feel even more blessed that my family and I have chosen to and are able to teach our children from home. I know that it's not for everyone; and I know that some people would like to do it and are simply unable to, but I am happy that we are.

My children and I watched some of the news coverage this morning and discussed how things like this can happen really anywhere. Several teens that attend our church also attend the high school, so it really hit close to home for us. Thankfully, none of them were hurt, but we are praying for the families of the other victims.

Anytime something like this happens, it's terrible - but when it's in your own backyard, it really makes you step back and evaluate the things are important in life. I'm sure that all across Ohio, parents are hugging their children a little tighter today.

Donna Milnes:

This is a very sad time for the Chardon community and my prayers go out to the families that lost loved ones as well as students, parents, educators and emergency staff that will carry the events of this terrible tragedy with them forever.

As parents, we all worry and try to protect our children from danger, be it falling when taking that first step or warning of the dangers of alcohol and drugs. We teach them to make good choices and be safe; but, sadly, we can’t keep them in a bubble and violence is a reality of today’s society.

My family has talked about what happened and how we feel. We question if something could have prevented this tragedy or if it can be prevented in the future.

The event that took place in Chardon has affected all of us, young children, teens, parents and grandparents but watching the memorials showing a community coming together to comfort each other and start the healing gives hope to the future.

Jill Korsok:

First, my thoughts and prayers are with the whole Chardon community and the families of the victims.

I've never felt that my children were unsafe at school, in our home, in their friends' homes, or in general, but senseless tragedies do make you stop and think.

In talking about this with a friend yesterday, I think what strikes me most is that, as parents, we spend countless hours talking to our kids on how to be safe -- how to ride their bikes safely, how to walk to school safely, wear a seatbelt, run a lawnmower, how to stay away from drugs -- we teach them what we know and how to be aware of and anticipate the dangers that we, as parents, know can threaten our kids well-being.

But in some situations, like this horrible event, we really can't prepare them because you can't anticipate it.

So again, we go back to talking about it and hope and pray that as they grow up, our culture will change and people will find other ways of dealing with their problems.