The news of what happened at the elementary school in Uvalde, Texas this week hit all of us right in the middle of the last days of school. A week that started with a lot of excitement and celebration, heading into summer, taking pics of our kids with their teachers … it all came to a screeching halt. How do we celebrate the end of school now? Do I let my kids go to school these last few days? Are they going to be safe? There’s even a sense of guilt before posting happy first day/last day pics on social media … when it’s likely that the next posts and videos you’ll see remind you that, while you’re celebrating, others are grieving.
Wow. This all feels like too much, you know? So, what can we as moms do to help?
I put together a list of resources that can help us process the news for us and our kids, and includes practical, tangible ways we can help families in Uvalde get through this unimaginable crisis.
When something bad happens, you have three choices: You can either let it define you, let it destroy you or let it strengthen you.
How to help families in Uvalde, Texas
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More than just thoughts and prayers
“Thoughts and prayers” have gotten a bad rap in recent years. But when you “think” about it, there’s no escaping the news and social media (unless we turn it off.) So, the next time we are confronted with a post about the tragedy of Uvalde, we can start by not just thinking “oh no, this is horrible.” We can also think about how we can help. And then take those thoughts one step further by praying to a “higher power.” That’s simply asking for help with something that is beyond our control. My personal belief as a Christian is that prayer is powerful. But even if you don’t have a personal faith, thoughts and prayers can be a solid step one. Then, on to step two: how can we practically offer help to families in Uvalde?
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Financial help through “Victims First” and other reputable organizations
According to NPR, Victims First is a group that ” … started the fund “to make sure that 100% of what is collected goes DIRECTLY to the victim base so the victims’ families and those wounded/injured are protected from fraud and exploitation.” You can find out more here.
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Give directly to the Uvalde school district via Zelle
If you prefer to use Zelle to support the families affected in Uvalde, there is a way to donate to the Robb School Memorial Fund. Look for “[email protected]” on Zelle. We understand that this is an official account with the First State Bank of Uvalde, opened by the school district. More information can be found here.
How to talk to our kids
- Click to find crisis resources with specific suggestions for different ages and stages (birth through age 18).
- Read more about what are healthy coping skills, plus what are some physical, emotional and behavioral symptoms to look out for in our kids.
How to process so we can better help our kids
If you’re like me, you may have stayed up a little too late, scrolling and reading about Uvalde. You probably thought about your kids, thankful that they’re ok. Maybe you even checked on them and kissed them goodnight again (even though they were already asleep.) I might have prayed for them again, too, for good measure, as we also prayed for comfort for the parents who were grieving the loss of their own. Oh, God, please be with them.
Us moms can be emotional creatures and that’s ok! We need time to process the news of the Uvalde school shooting, too. Let’s not just ignore it or push it away. Now is a good time to journal if you can. Talk your feelings out with your partner, spouse or a good friend. And I loved this advice from an interview on the Today Show website:
- “The other practical thing you can do is take some time out for yourself, whether that’s a walk by yourself, whether that’s listening to something that brings you joy, you need to make that time to connect with yourself.”
I hope this helps. Now, excuse me while I go hug my kids again.
~Coppelia
