This Morning I Said Goodbye to My Children

Summary

A parent reflects on the emotional complexity of saying goodbye to their children amidst fears for their safety due to gun violence, juxtaposing their own experience with the tragedy of parents who have lost children to shootings, and critiques the societal indifference and political inaction that allows such violence to persist.

Abstract

In a poignant and emotionally charged narrative, the author describes the bittersweet moment of bidding farewell to their children on the last day before a school vacation. While enjoying the temporary peace and personal time that follows, they are struck by a profound sense of guilt, recognizing the privilege of their situation when contrasted with the devastating reality faced by parents whose children have been victims of gun violence. The author points out the irony in societal fears and the misplaced priorities of those who fight against perceived threats in literature and reproductive rights while turning a blind eye to the tangible dangers of gun violence that claim young lives. The piece serves as a powerful commentary on the contradictions and moral failings of a society that values certain rights and fears over the sanctity of children's lives.

Opinions

The author feels a mix of relief and guilt when enjoying the quiet after their children leave for school, acknowledging the privilege of experiencing this daily routine safely.
There is a clear critique of the societal indifference to gun violence, particularly the lack of action by political figures who prioritize other issues over the safety of children.
The piece expresses frustration towards the prioritization of censorship and control over women's bodies while failing to address the real threat of gun violence.
The author suggests that the fight against books and reproductive rights is a misdirection of energy and resources that could be better spent on ensuring the safety and well-being of children.
A sense of urgency and helplessness is conveyed regarding the recurring tragedies of school shootings and the lack of effective measures to prevent them.

I hope it won’t be the last time.

I said goodbye to my kids this morning- the final day before April vacation with promises of warmth and fresh air

a tight squeeze, some thumbs up, an I love you so so much or two

The oldest rolling her eyes and shushing us as she stepped out of the car to meet her friends

Quiet at last! after a cacophony of giggles and battles over who goes first and the crunching of errant cereal under stomping feet and some tears and a barking dog and hungry cats

Relief that I can begin my day my work filled with domestics a to-do list to vanquish a mountain of laundry devouring the bed the running of the household writing

Guilt

no- fear-

at the serenity I love those soft moments after drop-off wrapping me in their comfort like the cardigans I adore

the time to be me- not mom

Guilt again for the moms of those innocents- the babes who won’t return for the moms and dads and the world that this moment so often taken for granted is denied forever

children laid to rest mowed down by indifferent bullets over and over by an evil allowed to reside by indifferent men- and women clinging to their guns and their gods themselves

but not so indifferent to the real dangers … to them…

fighting for books to be removed in the name of protecting their babies fighting for those Jezebels, those dirty women to carry future children that they can mold into perfection

denying the real danger

dead kids can’t read dead girls can’t rebel

this morning I said goodbye to my children every morning- pleading that it won’t be the last

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