Weathering the storms of parenthood....the scariest storms!!

You guys…sometimes I read news articles and it literally takes the air right out of my lungs. I have seen an article floating around about a sweet 18 month old who was taken from daycare by his biological father and is now missing. 18 months old. He is no bigger than my sweet 2 ½ year old whom I gave a little kiss on the head and told him and his big sister goodbye and that I loved them on my way out the door for work this morning. I cannot imagine what that family is going through. I cannot imagine what that poor little one may be going through.

 

I swear anytime I open up any news station there is nothing but abuse stories after abuse stories and childhood abductors. And every time I have to quickly scroll past or I swear my anxiety will shoot right through the roof. See there is no fear greater than the loss of a child and I cannot imagine having one taken from me and not knowing if they are ok or where they are. I cannot begin to imagine the torture that some of these little loves go through and most at the hands of family members. Family members who are angry at each other and want to hurt each other and so they drag an innocent little life into the matter.

 

A few weekends ago, Randie and I went to Rapid with a friend and her little one and on the way up we read an article about an attempted abduction in Spearfish. It made me look at absolutely everyone differently the entire day. I kept an eye on Randie like a hawk and ordered pepper spray because honestly, I would have no issues dropping someone in Walmart for them explain to authorities why they were following us.

I can remember as a child playing outside and riding the bikes up and down our block. I can remember running away from home and sitting at the end of the street. I can remember walking to my friends house a few blocks away and running around town at night playing night games. Our little town only had about 1000 people in it but still…that was 1000 people who could have been predators yet my parents didn’t bat an eye when I headed out the door, jumped on my bike, and told them I was headed to a friends. They were just happy I was getting out of the house. Maybe they worried about the same things that we do as parents now but I don’t feel like the threat was right there. Yes, there were child abductions and killings when I was growing up but you never heard as much about them as we do now. Maybe it’s because I am a grown up now so I am hearing about it and my parents sheltered me from that ugly part of society.

 

It was recently brought to my attention that our little town of Chadron isn’t as innocent as I thought it was and that things happen all the time that no one hears about. And it all boils down to parents not wanting to parents and not taking the time to spend with their children and teach them the ways of the world. It comes down to laws that are not tough on people who prey on children or adults and allow them to walk free with a slap on the wrist. What do some of these people honestly have to lose?

 

So to all of you out there reading this, I thank you for taking the time to not only love on your little ones but to teach them the ways of the world. Thank you for teaching them how to be decent little adults and to succeed in this world. As they say, love can change any situation and I am glad that the people who matter the most to me are surrounded by endless supplies of love be it from family, friends, neighbors, etc. Keep loving the little ones because today’s society is tough and kids cannot just be kids anymore. Show them the good in the world and be the good in the world. There is already too much darkness in this world for this mama so I will continue to stoke that little light in their hearts and show them that they never have to take on this world alone; they will always have a fighter in their corner. And also hug them a little tighter because you never know what tomorrow may bring. I know after reading all the horrible news, I plan to hug mine as soon as I can!