Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

I borrowed this prompt from wahooliteracyteacher at https://wahooliteracyteacher.wordpress.com/2023/03/26/yesterday-today-and-tomorrow-sol23/. The post there was much lighter. I did not expect these words to flow out of me but they did. It was a way for me to process some of what I have been feeling.

Yesterday I felt fear again at the news of another school shooting. My heart splintered at the loss of innocent children. The loss of innocence for all children at that school. Fear ran through me as I thought when will this be my school as the “if” quivered away. Tears flowed on the outside as fear and heartache wept on the inside.

Today I feel anger. Anger that there is never any change! Anger that those of us already alive with pounding heartbeats every second of every day do not have the same protection of our lives as unborn babies. The living have a right to life too! Anger that the politicians are more concerned about money, power and re-election than enacting new laws to protect all of our lives. Anger that we just keep doing the same thing over and over and over again and expecting different results… isn’t that the definition of insanity??? Anger just thinking WHAT has to happen for our country to change.

Tomorrow I will return to school. I will tuck my fear, anger and tears into my pockets and smile a welcome to my young learners. I will tell them how happy I am that I get to spend my days with them and see them grow. I will treasure them as much as their parents do. I will be on constant guard- what is that noise? who is that person? where would I hide right now? I will be thinking how do I keep these children safe. I will smile, laugh and wonder with my little ones while waiting for our politicians to do something to show these children how much they mean to this whole country.