Talking to Kids About School Shootings

When it comes to Talking to Kids About School Shootings, I think about the day I’ll have to tell Scout about the evil that exists in the world.

I’m so thankful that I got to spend 6 hours playing and hanging with Scout today. That’s about double from a typical day. During all that playtime and chatting and enjoying each other’s company, you almost forget about what is happening out in the world. You don’t think about the more than a dozen elementary kids who were shot and killed this week. Until you do.

Scout is two years old. She’s flown on more than 100 flights. She says hello to everyone she sees, even if she doesn’t know them. Scout pets every dog she sees and loves every creepy-crawly creature we find outside. Finally, she is often so overwhelmed with happiness that she has to run and scream in delight.

When it Comes to Talking to Kids About School Shootings…

She doesn’t know that evil exists in the world. And she has no clue that assault rifles exist. The only pain she’s faced at school is hearing that her best friend is moving away.

Mommy’s little wedding date doesn’t know that people shoot other people with guns. Her experience with hospitals is limited to episodes of Doc McStuffins, and our pretend “checkups” at home.

And honestly, I don’t want to tell her. When it comes to Talking to Kids About School Shootings, I want to preserve her innocent and optimistic mind just a little while longer. I don’t want her to see the world for what it really is, where kids kill other kids. Where people lie cheat and steal. Where people hurt other people… on purpose.

And again she’s two years old, so I think that’s okay. When it comes to Talking to Kids About School Shootings, I’ll keep her in blissful ignorance for just a little while longer.