This child of mine like so many others gets dressed, brushes her teeth, puts her makeup on, eats waffles for breakfast, checks her phone to see the latest pictures of her friends on Snapchat, and it's a normal breakfast and a normal morning like usual.

Mom or Dad or both are there in the morning to say, "Good Morning" - it's hectic, we take a moment and hug them, kiss them and tell them to have a great day at school with hopefully, a quick "I love you". In my case, her Step-Dad gets to hug her and say, "have a great day", I get to FaceTime her and give a quick "I love you". It's a normal day for us. Get your backpack, don't forget your water, and I tell her to have the best day ever.

And the unthinkable happens at a place where my child thinks she's safe, where I think she's safe. How can I explain it to my child when I don't even understand how someone can be so evil, evil enough to go into a school and start shooting?

Get our free mobile app

We sit down and talk about it and how this happens all too much in this world. I look at her smiling face, thinking nothing is wrong in her world, and nothing is, it's the outside world. Can I wrap her in bubble wrap and keep her in her room? Can I keep my eyes on her every day all day? Can I protect her 24 hours a day? No, is the answer to all these questions. We talked about the sadness together, the school, the children that were killed, and a couple of teachers. She tells me how they just had a shooter drill at her school and everything that happens with that. It's scary for a Mom that never had that, maybe we had a fire drill a couple of times a year.

Sue Moll, Townsquare Media
Sue Moll, Townsquare Media
loading...

I feel our schools in Berkeley Township and Ocean County are safe. There are police at the schools every day there to protect, and I feel comfortable knowing that the schools go through these drills. But what an eye opener for parents. Our kids have seen this over and over again always thinking it can never happen here - in New Jersey - in my school...but, it can.

She asked how did life get so bad that this 18-year-old kid did this. He killed his Grandma and then went to the school? She says I go to school with kids his age, I just can't even imagine.

So, I get a hug from my teenager, she heads back to her room where she hibernates and tears are rolling down my face as she walks away. God, I'm an emotional wreck.

Ask your child if they feel safe at their school. Maybe you're like me, thinking these shooter drills scare them - what is my daughter or son thinking? How scary for us as parents to hear about? But I'm thinking and praying that schools make them feel safe with these, and that's a great thing for parents to know. I know the school is taking this very seriously and all schools these days take these drills seriously.

I'm thinking to myself how ridiculous, how can a child not feel scared when this drill is happening? Maybe they're not, maybe they're more aware, way more aware than we ever were.

My heart is breaking for these Texas families. Life will never be the same or normal again as they start mourning. Peace to all. Hug your kids a little tighter today.

Sue Moll, Townsquare Media
Sue Moll, Townsquare Media
loading...
Abby
Sue Moll, Townsquare Media
loading...

______________________________________________________________________

Sue's Mommy Blog

My daughter is the love of my life - fresh, funny, and truly a wonderful little soul that brings me sunshine every day. Abby's now 16 and her life and what she does is just so funny, it’s too funny not to talk about or write about. It’s all about sharing our adventures with you. Time flies. Thanks for all of your advice through the years, mom's we are never alone! I guess it should be "Sue's Mom Blog" since she's so grown up now, I'm totally laughing out loud at that!

______________________________________________________________________

Your Official 2022 PNC Bank Arts Center Concert Schedule

38 Jersey Shore Tourist Traps Even Locals Can't Resist

There are some places at the Jersey Shore visitors will seek out for their sheer notoriety. But, we'll let you in on a little secret. There are some, like AC casinos and Lucy the Elephant, we can't resist them either.

 

More From 92.7 WOBM