From Sandy Hook to Ebola: what to do when fear goes too far

It was my daughter Sophie’s first day of kindergarten. I was desperately trying (and failing) to hold back the tears. Wearing sunglasses inside the building came in handy because I was determined to put on a big show of confidence. Parents around me also looked nervous and emotional. A child’s first day of kindergarten is a big transition. Gone are the days of spending so much time together. Now a large portion of your child’s life will happen outside of the home. Even if your son or daughter was in full-time daycare or preschool, kindergarten is new and unwieldy. You aren’t just sending your kid into the belly of the beast, you’re saying goodbye to an old way of life. A life you’ve known for five or six years. That was a small part of what I was feeling. But if I’m telling the honest truth, I was afraid. School shootings have lasting impact I was afraid of another Sandy Hook. School shootings are terrifying and tragic. There isn’t a single one of us who wasn’t crushed by the events at Sandy Hook and the acts of gun violence before and since. I couldn’t help but feel as if my daughter’s school might be next. I couldn’t stop worrying. Every time I dropped Sophie off at school, I cried afterward. Ambulance sirens made my heart race. My stomach was in knots from morning till night. My fears had gotten out of control. So I went to see a counselor. Me. The nurse, the professional, the one who’s usually reassuring concerned parents about this thing or that...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: All posts Source Type: news