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| glasses from Claire's |
Rhett and I hit the mall for a little recon in preparation of Tristen's Amazing Birthday Mall Race this Friday night. I am, seriously, supeeeer excited!!! Here's to hoping the kids love it... You never know with tweensters- they're a tough crowd to impress. But I aim to please, and I think this is going to be a birthday party to remember. I've been printing, and cutting, and stringing, and planning for over a week, and now that all the Pit Stop Clues, Challenges, Detours, and Roadblocks are lined up- by tomorrow night, we should be good to go.
Tonight, as we walked the mall, I noticed the security presence. Was it more security, spurred by the mall shooting Tuesday, or was it Me, just being more aware? Maybe it was a little of both.
By now, the whole nation is aware of the mall shooting that took place in Portland at Clackamas Town Center this past Tuesday. It happened about 3:30p, and on my way home at 4p, numerous police cars and even a Swat bus flew past me on the freeway... the freeway that I exited off of as soon as I could to avoid getting any closer, not knowing exactly what was going on. Not knowing if the shooter had been contained in the mall, or was on the loose. As soon as I got home, I tuned in the local news for the rest of the evening and watched with shock and sadness at seeing such a familiar place locked down. Such a familiar place, now the place of an awful, senseless crime scene. That night, I called one of the mom's whose son is coming to the birthday party and asked her if she was still comfortable with us holding a part of the party at a mall, (not the Clackamas mall, though Clackamas was one of the mall's we considered for the party) and she said "you know Makaila, we can't just stay out of malls. We can't live in fear." And we can't. We can't stop going to movies, we can't not send our kids to school, we can't not go to the mall. Can we, will we be more vigilant? Best believe. Best believe all 6 of these kids I'll be in charge off will receive complete, strict instructions on staying together at all times, on where the mall exits are, will be told to be aware of their surroundings, and will be given a brief "what to do in case of emergency". On one hand, it truly is sad that we have to tell our kids these things, to prepare them to be prepared. And I admit, the thought of being in charge of these kids + recent events makes my anxiety pitter a little bit faster; but, we won't stop our lives. We can't live in fear. We're going to the mall Friday.
13 comments:
The party is going to be soo fun!
Sounds like a blast!! Things will be fine! Don't let you anxiety get the best of you!!
Five years ago Omaha was shook by a horrible mall shooting that took nine lives and wounded another four. I wasn't as brave as you and stayed away from the mall for a long time. Even now, I get a little anxious on the third floor of Von Maur, where the shooter started his killing spree. These mall shootings are heartbreaking yet eye opening. I think if we had less of a stigma about mental health in the US and provided more help, we wouldn't have as many of these horrible incidents.
Sorry for the novel. Love you! :)
This post is oh so true. You can't live in fear.
It sounds like T is going to have one awesome party and you are a great mom for 1) throwing it and 2) making sure the kids are prepared for today's societal fears.
Kudos to you, lady with great hair!
Those MIGHT be (might be) the best sunglasses ever. The party WILL be great, no anxiety just fun :)
xx
The party is going to be totally awesome, the kids will LOVE it! You're right, we can't live in fear, we have to keep living. Can't wait to hear all about the party!
xo, Yi-chia
Always Maylee
That party is going to be so awesome!!!
The woman killed was our neighbor. Her son goes to Carter's school. Horrid, awful, senseless, devastating, mind-blowing, disgusting......I feel sick for that kid and his family.
I onlined shopped this year. I don't want to get shot over a hello kitty toy or someone's Starbucks having no whipped cream. But your right we can't live in fear.
One of my blog friends works at the Macy's in THAT mall. She was off that day. Scary stuff!
I still can't believe that happened so close to home. That was the safe mall when I was growing up. Lloyd Center had a couple of gang shootings and my mom hated it when I went there.
T's party sounds fun! I want to go!
Here's to being the coolest Mom ever and a happy birthday to T!
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