Randomly Tonia

This past weekend I read news stories about several tragedies involving young children. And you can bet that Facebook was alive with people ready to sling blame.

Dozens of memes and posts popped up on my news feed blaming the mothers, specifically, for not watching these youngsters closely enough.

Some went way too far, regardless of how neglectful, or not, a parent may have been.

I’m unsure how many of these people have ever had their hands full with two toddlers and an infant, but I can tell you it is no easy task.

There are countless opportunities for things to go wrong so very quickly, it is up to adults to never, ever lose track of our young - not for one second.

We, as parents, pressure ourselves to be 110% at all times, often with little to no sleep. We question each aspect of parenting over and over again, and many of us gaze at our babies (no matter what their age) while they sleep and pray that we don’t screw this up.

The pressure to keep our babies safe begins with us and that pressure builds with friends and family offering advice and making “constructively critical” comments.

Add to all of this the glaring judgement of others, even just in a restaurant or supermarket.

In a world where danger lurks around every corner, it almost seems easier to stay home and deny our little ones the learning opportunities that are out there for fear.

Instead, most of us brave the masses and introduce our little ones to all that we can, even if it is only the restaurant or supermarket.

These moms, these families have just survived the absolute worst thing a parent can fathom so I am just not sure this is the right time to be pointing fingers. I’m not even sure there is a right time.

I believe instead - that perhaps now it is best to be kind, gentle - not just with those who are bearing the unimaginable, but with everyone.