The world is still reeling after Monday night’s attack at the Manchester Arena, and parents all over the world held their babies just a little bit tighter last night.
Amid the chaos of the aftermath, as we try to answer our children’s questions about the incident, we can be left wondering how best to comfort them. We need only look to the powerful open letter penned by one mum blogger for guidance.
Blogger Mummy Mumbles has really struck a chord today, with a letter she wrote to her son – and, indeed, to his entire generation – about the Manchester attack.
To begin with, she sums up a fear that has touched every parent’s mind in the aftermath of the attack: that these incidents are only going to happen more and more as this generation of children gets older.
“As you grow up, you may think that it makes more sense and is safer to just ‘stay in and not do anything’,” she wrote.
However, what she wants her son and his entire generation to do, is the exact opposite.
“Go out….and do EVERYTHING,” she urged. “Do everything you want to do. Go everywhere you want to go. See everyone you want to see.
“Go to that party at that club, go to school and university, go travelling and get on that plane, ride on the underground and go to that sports match; go on that holiday and see those sights, go to that shopping centre, go to that concert, go see that movie, go eat at that restaurant.”
She also touches on a topic that has niggled at us all since not only the Manchester tragedy, but those of Paris, London and beyond. While our job is to protect our little ones from any harm, and we do everything in our power to do so, there are some people and situations that are outside of our power.
“These monsters do horrible things all over the world. These monsters I cannot always protect you from. And as a parent, that is the hardest thing in the world for me to come to terms with and admit to you,” she wrote.
But, she knows exactly what action she is going to take; she is going to teach her son how to simply live his life to the fullest.
“They don’t want you to do that. They don’t win if you do that. So do it. Every day. Never be afraid to enjoy yourself and live your life to the fullest,” she wrote.
And rather than focusing on the ‘baddies’ of the story, she is going to help her son by drawing attention to the outpouring of love in the midst of tragedy.
“Look for the goodies, my darling. Look at those who, like last night’s attack in Manchester, are helping others,” she added, pointing to medical staff and kind strangers who went above and beyond.
“Look for the strength. The determination. The love. We will show you the heroes always beat the villains.”
It’s not hard to see why this dedication has gone completely viral around the world – it’s exactly the kind of message we as parents need to draw strength and encouragement from, right now.
