My Wish for Newtown

I hope that on the day the world ended in Newtown, every family had an easy morning. I hope that first-graders happily completed their young independencies: brushing their own teeth, fastening buttons and snaps with determined small fingers, retrieving shoes and socks. I hope families ate breakfast (oatmeal? cereal? pancakes?) together, with no spilled milk or burned toast, that lunchboxes and school projects and maybe a class treat were all gathered up without a mad last-minute rush. I hope the drive to school was filled with singing along to whatever was on the radio, or with conversation about holiday parties or Santa or Hanukkah or going to grandma’s house. I hope none of the parents were running late, stressed out about workholidaysmoneytime; I hope no one snapped hurry up we’re late. I hope siblings didn’t bicker in the backseat, that there were no moans of he’s on my side she pushed me I hate you no I hate YOU.

I hope that kisses were given and hugs received; I hope the morning was remarkable only for its unremarkableness.

I hope the morning was easy and smooth, sliding by like a pearl slipping off a string; I want it to have been beautiful for them, this last morning, the day that no one knew would be the end of the world.

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Tags: Connecticut shooting, Newton, children, grief, loss

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Comment by Greta Funk on January 16, 2013 at 12:26pm: Beautiful. And so moving...what an amazing perspective.

Comment by Idiosyncratic Eye on January 7, 2013 at 6:53am: Poignant. :)

Comment by Vicky Willenberg on December 27, 2012 at 12:35am: I had this same thought that day. I spoke to my own mom on the phone and realized I couldn't even recall the last words I said as my kids hopped out after requesting to be dropped off in the carpool line rather than walked in. I will never give the drop off vs walked in choice again. I will never be so focused on the next To Do that I am not intentional about my final words before they leave my care. Thank you for sharing these beautiful words.

Comment by Kimberly Rues on December 26, 2012 at 8:11pm: I hope so too.

Comment by Brahm Kornbluth on December 22, 2012 at 3:52am: Beautiful piece... thanks for sharing. Sure made me think.

Comment by Tara Roberts on December 21, 2012 at 11:55am: This was very tender and moving. Beautifully written.

Comment by Katy Brandes on December 21, 2012 at 10:32am: So beautifully poignant. Thank you for sharing it with us. We should all appreciate these moments and remember how quickly they can be taken away.

Comment by Elizabeth Pagel-Hogan on December 21, 2012 at 10:05am: I'm a mom of 3 and sometimes I sabotage my own mornings. But I do make sure I tell my kids before they head into school every day that I love them...no matter how frustrated I've been. I've always been kind of superstitious about that and last Friday reinforced my belief.

Comment by Charlotte Klein on December 21, 2012 at 9:59am: Thank you for this, Deborah. I hope the morning started out just as you described here for all of those parents, too. I think it's important for us all to remember to enjoy each waking moment the best we can.

XOXO

Comment by Kelly Sajonia on December 21, 2012 at 9:45am: This is such a beautiful, heart felt post. Thank you for sharing your words in our Community Blog.