Thursday evening I took the kids to our local outdoor shopping center to see “snow” and get a peek at Santa.
It wasn’t until the security guard walked by me that I remembered the shooting at another local mall just two days earlier.
My thoughts immediately shifted to, “what would I do if somebody started shooting in the crowded center court that was currently filled with happy, screaming children chasing fake snow while moms and dads snapped photos nearby, and other families waited in line for their young children to talk to Santa?!”
The next morning I took Reece to his kindergarten class like I do every weekday. I gave him a hug and a kiss, told him I loved him and that I would be back to get him after lunch.
One hour later I learned of the heartbreaking news in Connecticut.
I wanted to rush to Reece’s school and bring him home.
I didn’t .
I wanted him to enjoy his morning with his friends and his wonderful teachers.
Instead, I sat on the sofa glued to the TV with tears streaming down my face counting the minutes until I could leave to go pick him up.
We shouldn’t have to worry about our children being safe while visiting Santa or going to school, but now we are.
My heart is broken for the families.
Our broken society needs to be mended.
I don’t know what the answer is, but let’s start with LOVE.
home is…grieving, mending, loving.
stephany taddeo 
Amen.
I keep thinking of my own kindergartner and his class. so so sad.
A brave thing to not go get your boy… and a brave response to violence we cannot predict or understand. Being prepared is a sad thing to have to do… but the best and smartest response to protect our loved ones as best we can.
It is terribly sad what happened, and also very brave to not rush and get Reece. Being prepared, and having a “plan” is a smart thing, but if we change our activities too much in response to horrible acts then we give the power to these monsters.