I am asking myself this question “Are Our Children Growing Up Too Fast?” Imagine your young child using Google to threaten you?
A few days ago we woke up to the terrible news of the attack in Manchester. It was truly horrific to hear that people leaving an Ariana Grande concert in Machester were victims of a bomb that exploded in the foyer of a Manchester Arena moments after the star left the stage on Monday night.
As is our family routine, we were praying that morning and my husband said a prayer for the Manchester victims. Immediately after saying Amen, our children asked what happened in Manchester. Of course in that moment we were carefully assessing whether to or how much to tell them about what happened.
With a glint in his eye, my 7-year-old said “fine don’t tell us what happened you know I can find out anyway?” basically he was telling us that he would simply “google what happened in Machester” and he will get an answer.
We did end up telling them what happened. Of course, we had to answer questions like “why would anyone do that to people’? It raised so many questions and made me sad about the world our children are growing up in. I remember my childhood, there was no easy access to information and it was easier for parents to control what we had access to. Nowadays no parent is able to shield technology abled children from accessing news and information.
A World Of Terror
Growing up we had no knowledge of terror and definitely not on the level we have today. If we are not careful “fear” will creep in as we raise children today. I remember going to concerts as a teenager in college, but now do we become fearful of large gatherings?
You do not want your children to be filled with dear, but you can also understand when your child sees a concerts as a source of fear or anxiety.
One of the youngest victims was an eight-year-old Saffire Rose Roussos, who has become one of the youngest Brits ever killed in a terror attack.
That the word “suicide bomber” has made it into our vocabulary is a scary thought, that anyone can be brainwashed to cause so much pain to others is unfathomable.
“The thought that anyone could go out to a concert and not come home is heartbreaking”. The Queen called the Manchester suicide bomber “very wicked” as she visited the injured victims.
The unlimited access to news today thanks to the internet; means that parents need to be digital in their thinking. Children are growing up in a world with unlimited access and simultaneously facing a world that has more evil happenings. Parents need to give context and help to deal with fears by communicating as much as possible.
We pray for all the victims, not only of the Machester attack but victims of other acts of terror.
