SWR - School Shootings

I'm sure you're looking at the title thinking, how on earth is this even remotely wedding related??

We are all planning weddings, and some of us are planning on having kids. With the latest school shooting in the news, is anyone second guessing the kids part? If not completely second guessing are you have reservations?

Every time I hear another child related horror story I question the wisdom of bringing children into the world and wondering what kinds of aweful challenges they will have to face. Often after these thoughts, I am reminded that my parents had the same concerns, and that each generation goes through the same thing. Is the war in Iraq worse than the cold war or the Vietnam war? Is today's drug culture worse than it was in the 70's? Can I afford to live in a neighborhood without crack dealers on the corner, (or homeless people liting fires in garbage cans on the corner) and gangs in the schools (instead of on the streets)? Is our generation the same as every other?? Is HIV/AIDS the only significant difference between 2006 and 1966 or 1976?????

i understand your concerns and being worried is normal-- what i do is try to live my life the best i can, be the best person i can be, be the best american i can be-- say something when i see something wrong or suspicious and live my life b/c it's hard to worry about something that is out of your control-- and our fate, my fate and everyone else's fate is not in my control-- so i just go with it and hope for the best. i hope that as long as i live a good life and i'm a good person that God will do the right thing by me, my family and my life. That's the best I can do... are we worse off or is it all the same, just a different time? Who knows but we have no control over it either way.

OK...here I come with my bad humor...I think the ultimate lesson learned is: Do NOT live in Colorado...only bad things seem to happen there. [columbine, this, jon benet, kobe...]


on a more serious note, i don't think it's any more dangerous or scary now...i think we're more a open society [we discuss and deal with drugs and teen pregnancy instead of hiding it] and news travels faster.

Darlene, DH and I were having a similar discussion about this last night. As you know, he's already got a reason to worry about school shootings.

I completely understand how you feel and I've often questioned the idea of bringing children into this world. But I really don't see that as the answer. For me, I think it's more important that we do have children and raise the next generation to be well educated so that maybe some of these issues can be resolved. You never know my kid might end up solving world hunger and your kid could find the cure for cancer.

Us not having children won't stop anything, in fact I think it'll make it worse. If we, good law-abiding citizens, don't raise children then the only ones who will be are the 'not-so-good' people out there.

I have 2 children. Everyday my heart walks around outside of my chest. Nevermind school shootings... I can keep myself awake thinking of pedophiles, kidnappers, bus accidents, car accidents, bike accidents, skateboards, dog bites... the other day my son was doing a tumblesault and I had a sudden thought of him breaking his neck from the awkward position.

But here is the thing... with love there is risk.

You are getting married. You are handing your heart wide open, on a silver platter to another person. You are hoping he doesn't hurt you or break you... but there is no guarantee.

Same with kids. No guarantees that they won't be born with an anomaly or grow up and get hurt or what have you.

BUT I will tell you that having children is the SINGLE GREATEST thing I have ever experienced. I love my children more than anything I have ever expressed. It is a constant ache. I can't even explain the way they turn me inside out....

It is scary. Being alive is scary. But I wouldn't trade it for the world.

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Posted by rojerono

I have 2 children. Everyday my heart walks around outside of my chest. Nevermind school shootings... I can keep myself awake thinking of pedophiles, kidnappers, bus accidents, car accidents, bike accidents, skateboards, dog bites... the other day my son was doing a tumblesault and I had a sudden thought of him breaking his neck from the awkward position.

But here is the thing... with love there is risk.

You are getting married. You are handing your heart wide open, on a silver platter to another person. You are hoping he doesn't hurt you or break you... but there is no guarantee.

Same with kids. No guarantees that they won't be born with an anomaly or grow up and get hurt or what have you.

BUT I will tell you that having children is the SINGLE GREATEST thing I have ever experienced. I love my children more than anything I have ever expressed. It is a constant ache. I can't even explain the way they turn me inside out....

It is scary. Being alive is scary. But I wouldn't trade it for the world.

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WOW, your post gave me chills!!
Well-written! Inspiring! Thanks for posting!!!

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Posted by rojerono

I have 2 children. Everyday my heart walks around outside of my chest. Nevermind school shootings... I can keep myself awake thinking of pedophiles, kidnappers, bus accidents, car accidents, bike accidents, skateboards, dog bites... the other day my son was doing a tumblesault and I had a sudden thought of him breaking his neck from the awkward position.

But here is the thing... with love there is risk.

You are getting married. You are handing your heart wide open, on a silver platter to another person. You are hoping he doesn't hurt you or break you... but there is no guarantee.

Same with kids. No guarantees that they won't be born with an anomaly or grow up and get hurt or what have you.

BUT I will tell you that having children is the SINGLE GREATEST thing I have ever experienced. I love my children more than anything I have ever expressed. It is a constant ache. I can't even explain the way they turn me inside out....

It is scary. Being alive is scary. But I wouldn't trade it for the world.

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Very, very, very well said!!!!

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Posted by rojerono

I have 2 children. Everyday my heart walks around outside of my chest. Nevermind school shootings... I can keep myself awake thinking of pedophiles, kidnappers, bus accidents, car accidents, bike accidents, skateboards, dog bites... the other day my son was doing a tumblesault and I had a sudden thought of him breaking his neck from the awkward position.

But here is the thing... with love there is risk.

You are getting married. You are handing your heart wide open, on a silver platter to another person. You are hoping he doesn't hurt you or break you... but there is no guarantee.

Same with kids. No guarantees that they won't be born with an anomaly or grow up and get hurt or what have you.

BUT I will tell you that having children is the SINGLE GREATEST thing I have ever experienced. I love my children more than anything I have ever expressed. It is a constant ache. I can't even explain the way they turn me inside out....

It is scary. Being alive is scary. But I wouldn't trade it for the world.

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That is a great outlook on things!!!!