That’s what we tell them.
The other day I was watching the news and it was detailing the heartbreaking plight of Syrian refugees, the devastation of Aleppo as well as a highly insulting comment made by the 45th president of the United States of America and it occurred to me, as my eldest was pottering about the lounge, should I change the channel? Should I distract him? What should I shelter him from? Should I be sheltering him? I don’t have the answers to this, maybe I never will, but it occurred to me that there was something I could do when he starts asking questions or when he ultimately sees an image on a newspaper, from television, or hears about a heart-wrenching world event. We live in a world where bad things happen. Daily. No one can deny that but what I want him to learn, to take away from each event is that the good outweighs the bad. I really believe that. While there will always be people who cause suffering, there are also people that will try and help even in the smallest of ways; people that campaign, people that raise money, people that march in solidarity, people that fight, people that pray, people that speak up when hundreds are silent. Decent, humane, wholesome people. I want him to see that. I want him to see that in me too. We can’t shelter them from everything but we can raise them to be one of the good ones, we can be one of the good ones.
There’s still beauty left in the world.
That’s what we tell them.
That’s what we tell them.
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Oh it's so hard. My daughter is so sensitive so if anything is particularly harrowing I do tend to switch over or distract her. You're right though and tell them that they can change the world xx
ReplyDeleteIt's so hard to know what to do isn't it? They are small for such a short time, you just want to protect them from everything xxc
DeleteI try to make news accessible without being scary, very difficult :(
ReplyDeleteit is so difficult xxx
Deletethere definitely is still plenty of beauty in the world. and the news doesn't always convey the good. my son is only 3 so we typically don't have the news on with him around #bigpinklink
ReplyDeleteThe good still outweighs the bad, I'm sure of that xx
DeleteIts hard but its good to hep them learn gratitude and be grateful for all we are lucky enough to have x
ReplyDeleteVery true xx
DeleteIt is so difficult to know what to do for the best isn't it. My daughter is only 2 at the minute so it isn't really an issue yet. I guess I'll cross that bridge when we get to it. I totally agree with what you say about teaching them to be one of the good ones.
ReplyDelete#MarvMondays
It's certainly tough to know what to expose them to and when x
DeleteIt is so difficult to know what to do for the best isn't it. My daughter is only 2 at the minute so it isn't really an issue yet. I guess I'll cross that bridge when we get to it. I totally agree with what you say about teaching them to be one of the good ones.
ReplyDelete#MarvMondays
Yes, it's so crucial to have the hard conversations and to point our children to the sovereignty of God.
ReplyDeletev true x
DeleteIt really is difficult, at the moment my little girl is only 2 so it's not that much of an issue. But I know it won't be long before it is. #marvmondays
ReplyDeleteIt's tough to know what to expose them too but it'll be a while before they start asking questions x
DeleteNews is so much more available now then it was when I was growing up. I can remember seeing the news of the Iraq war on the tv when I was little. But that was all I saw. These days news is everywhere. You can't escape it so it's important to find the balance and try to encourage how they perceive it, rather than frighten them. Even though that may be hard. #dreamteam
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely about finding that balance, so true x
DeleteThis is definitely tricky and I am always constantly asking myself "Is he ready? Is he matured enough?" You're right, we can't shelter our kids but then again, how much is too much? I like what you say though, that we should also show them that there is beauty in this world too. Thanks for linking with #bigpinklink
ReplyDeleteIt's all about finding that balance isn't it x
DeleteIt's tough explaining to kids that the World isn't all roses. So many whys that really don't have a satisfactory answer :/ #SharingtheBlogLove
ReplyDeleteThis is an ongoing debate in my mind too. At this point it's easy: my twins are just 4. They don't ask questions or even really pay attention to "grown-up" shows on TV at all. But when they're older, I suspect I'll try to answer their questions honestly while still helping them feel safe. Easier said than done, I"m sure.....#SharingtheBlogLove
ReplyDeleteIt feels like there are so many tragedies happening in the news lately and it's so difficult to know how best to handle it. My son is only 2, so thankfully I haven't really had to deal with it yet, but I think that's what I cling onto as well - that whenever there is a tragedy, you see so many good people come together to help. That you can always look for the good and the beauty in the world, and hopefully raise our children to be the good people. Thanks for joining us at #SharingtheBlogLove
ReplyDeleteThis is such a difficult one, but you are very right that we need to encourage and show that there is good out there in the world. My little one isn't at the age yet for this, but it's something that I dread. Thank you for linking up to the #dreamteam x
ReplyDeleteI find this so tricky, we dont listen to the news on the radio or anything as I just think there is time for that (eldest is 6) until she knows who she is a bit more and that kindness os key. She is sensitive too so I wouldnt want to scare her and it is so tricky to know when is the right time. #sharingthebloglove
ReplyDeleteMy girls are too little at the moment to be able to cope with the news, so we don't have it on when they are around. It's a difficult one to manage, but for now I wouldn't want them to be upset or worried by anything they saw or heard. Thank you for joining us at #SharingtheBlogLove
ReplyDeleteI agree....we can't shelter them but we can raise them as the good ones but that has to start with us....I wish more people in the world thought like this. Thanks for linking up to #coolmumclub lovely xoxo
ReplyDeleteI agree with the other commenters. You can't always shelter them, but you can provide context and try and teach them to be one of the good ones and install the right values. Great post :) #coolmumclub
ReplyDeleteThe only way we can make the world better is to raise our children to be better. Recent events have only strengthened my resolve to raise good people #thatfridaylinky Great post
ReplyDeleteWe can raise our children to change this messed up world I believe that with a passion super post Thanks for linking to the #THAT FRIDAY LINKY come back next week please
ReplyDeleteIt can be so hard! As one of my friends said, there is more good than bad in the world. Thanks for linking up to #SundayBest x
ReplyDeleteIt's so hard. I love the idea of telling them to look for the helpers when something awful happens. Kind of ties in with Sian's comment. #coolmumclub
ReplyDeleteI often wonder about such things. At almost five years old, we only ever have Cbeebies on TV. I have wondered whether we should put the news on now and again and discuss such topics with them, but they're only young once so haven't yet. Thanks for linking up to #ThatFridayLinky
ReplyDelete