Boston

I'd like to think my blog is going to be all laughs and good times. Maybe a bit of self-deprecating humor. But today's post is a bit more serious.

I sat yesterday hearing the news, like most everyone else in America in an utter state of shock. How? Why? Why would anyone do such a thing? The same things I thought watching the Sandy Hook coverage not too long ago.

I look over at my daughter, 3 years old and innocently playing with all her toys. She was in full princess dress up mode yesterday. Thankfully she's at an age where she doesn't understand what happened. She won't be asking me why someone would want to hurt other people, or why an 8 year old boy is now dead, when all he wanted to do was watch his dad cross the finish line.

But I'm scared for the world she's being raised in. I know when we let fear guide us we let "them", whoever they are, win. But as a mom its hard not to be scared. It seems like every time you turn around you're hearing another story of how innocent lives were taken. All lives are precious, but the death of kids always hits me hard.

As I checked my facebook updates I saw a lot of the expected "prayers for Boston" pictures. Posts meant to show our solidarity. Then I saw a few things that made me outright angry.

There are people, on both sides of the gun debate, already using this tragedy as fodder for their cause. It hadn't even been 24 hours!!!! There are people missing limbs, dead, families that don't know where their loved ones are. People still trying to make sense of this tragedy and already there are people on both sides using this!

No, no, NO!

Whether you are for or against gun restrictions lets step back a minute. Put yourself in the shoes of the mother that lost her 8 year old son. Do you think she cares what you think about gun control? She's grieving the loss of her baby. I get that everyone has a point to make but it's too soon. Entirely too soon for this. Pictures meant to be a joke saying "bombs don't kill people, people kill people" and "ban bomb making supplies", are not funny. You hear that? NOT FUNNY. And even if they weren't meant to be funny, they're not appropriate.

I said the same thing to my husband after the Sandy Hook shootings. The next morning people were debating gun control. Too soon. Let these people grieve. Instead of spending your time making pictures meant to gain support for your cause, how about you spend your time donating blood, or money, or even just moral support to those that need it. That's something constructive to do.

For the record, I will not now, nor will I ever get into my political affiliation, or my stance on gun control. This isn't meant to be a political blog, and it won't be. Hopefully this is the last "political" post you'll see here. But I feel like I just could not, not comment on the things I witnessed yesterday on Facebook.

I hope all of you go home tonight and hug your kids tight. Tell them you love them. And be glad it isn't you or your family suffering this loss. Find a way to help. Already I've seen stories of strangers opening their homes to marathoners so they have a place to stay. That's what we need more of in this country. Not 2 sides constantly bickering at each other. We should be standing united against whoever was behind this. Whether it be a terrorist from another country, or one from our own. Let your hearts, and if you're religious, your prayers be with Boston.

~AJ