A Child’s Violence, A Parent’s Bewilderment

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How did we come to this? Our children perpetrate violence and we watch in stunned silence.

Yesterday at 2pm, there was a mass school shooting committed by a child against other children of a South Florida high school he had attended in the past. This is my life this morning in the aftermath.

My friend emailed me about a friend who lost her son to the same shooting. Over breakfast, my son told me about his unsettling fears on the issue of safety at his school. And I wrote to my son’s principal because I had assured my son that I would do something about his fears. I also wrote to our local police officer seeking help for our children’s wellbeing.

Here are the prayers to the parents of the children killed on Ash Wednesday. Here are the prayers to the parents who lost their child on Valentine’s day.

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Hug Your Children

Email Subject: Hug Your Children

[My friend’s name redacted]
7:03 AM (38 minutes ago)

Hug your children this morning. Hug them every chance you get.

We moved here from Parkland; Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School is the school my oldest daughter attended in south Florida. One of my dear friends likely lost her son yesterday. When I went to bed late last night they were still awaiting official word, but had been unable to locate him at area hospitals and hadn’t heard from him. What a nightmare.

What’s it going to take for our country to wake up and get rid of weapons like the one this shooter used?

All I can think of this morning is that in a few minutes I’m going to have to drop my daughter off at school and try to believe that she will be safe there.

So. I’m going to hug her and tell her how much I love her.

Reply from: Rachana Nadella-Somayajula [email redacted]

7:39 AM (2 minutes ago)

I’m so sorry [My friend’s name redacted]. If its not annihilation after the death of a child, I don’t know what it is.

“IT’S NEVER GOING TO BE OK” ~ This is what I wrote in my journal in caps yesterday night when my son told the news (one reason I’ve stopped reading news at all, no Skimm, no CNN, nothing)

Please keep us posted on your friend when you know more.
Thank you for your email, even if you don’t see it, it gives hope.

Reply from: [My friend’s name redacted]

8:19 AM (48 minutes ago)

Thanks, Rachana. I got word this morning that our friends were notified around 3 am that Luke did not survive. Praying for the Hoyers and all of the families affected.

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Unsettling lunch break fears:

Email Subject: Unsettling lunch break fears

Hello [Principal’s name redacted]

Good morning!
I’m Rachana, the mother of Ky Somayajula from 7th grade. This morning, my son and I were talking about the difficult topic of school shootings and safety on campus.

And I assured him that there’s so much good in the world but it all doesn’t make it into news. He seems to understand but also told me that there are two ways the lunch crowd is dismissed from the cafeteria. And if you’re sitting in the back of the cafeteria, you leave from the back door which is out in the open which doesn’t feel safe at all. And if you sit in the front of the cafeteria, you leave to your classrooms from the inside which is “very safe”. (His words)

He also said, our officer only has one taser, one baton and one hand gun with one magazine. (Not sure how he has heard this info.)

Can you please conduct a workshop or seminar to quell the fears of the kids because they seem to want to be ensured that their school is a safe place.

Thank you so much, as Ky’s parents, its very very reassuring for us to send him to a place like [redacted] for his education.
We’re very grateful.

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Active Shooter Scenario Training: 

Email Subject: Active Shooter Scenario Training:

Good morning Officer [redacted],

Hope you’re well. I was looking forward to your training session on “Active Shooter Scenario” next Monday, so that I can write an informational essay on it and put it up on my blog.

As sad as it sounds, there’s a greater need now to equip our children with this kind of awareness and education, so they won’t fall victims to violence.

Looking forward to being a part of the rescheduled session.
Thank you for everything you do.
Thank you for putting your life on the line.

Rachana.

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