A question I could not answer.

So this evening I was sitting at the computer crying and reading an article about the terrible tragedy that occurred in Connecticut today. My 10 year old asks me if I am alright. She sits down beside me and I tell her about what happened. She breaths deep. Her first question is "Was this in the United States?" I tell her that it was. Her next question is "Why do these sort of things happen so much in the United States?". All I can say is, "I just don't know." We talk a bit more about it and then she just sits there beside me as I read more of the article. I know she is thinking, I can feel it. She breaks the silence with another question "Mom, what would make a person so mad to do something so awful? I mean, to your own mom? I couldn't imagine being that mad to shoot somebody, especially you, you are the best person in the world." By now she is crying and so am I. I just shake my head and say " I don't know sweetheart, I can't imagine it either." It's her next question that has kept me thinking long after the conversation has ended and she is off in bed sleeping peacefully(I hope). "Mom, if stuff like this happens in real life, why do they make shows about it?" What a good question! I tell her so and then add that I guess some people find watching crime shows entertaining. "But, why would somebody read this and say how awful it is and then go downstairs, or to a movie and watch it in a show for entertainment? That just doesn't make sense!" She's right of course, it doesn't make sense. I tell her that I have no good answers, I wish that I did, but I just don't. At this point, James comes in the room with a terrible stench, and I need to do something about it before we all pass out. And so that is the end of our conversation, but not the end of my thinking.

I used to watch crime shows often, I loved them. I've read my fair share of crime books too. Why? Why did I find them entertaining. The suspense? The terror? What was it about them that kept bringing me back to them? It's been a number of months since the last time I watched any type of crime show, I stopped watching them sometime around the time I wrote this post. I've completely lost my appetite for them. I honestly can't think of any good reason for why I ever felt the need to watch them. Not that I think you are bad if you enjoy that sort of thing, but what is it about them that makes them appealing and entertaining? Seriously, I am asking. What do you think it is? Why do we as a society become appalled and saddened when such things happen in real life, but seem to be unfazed by it when we watch or read it for "entertainment"?

Ick!

Yesterday, my husband was sick. He called in sick to work, for which he still gets paid.  Today I wake up sick. But who do I call in sick too? nobody. I must still get up and feed the kids breakfast, send two of them off to school and then some how entertain the two younger ones. Oh yes, and lets not forget that I am 7 months pregnant and today every kick is one of discomfort, every baby movement causes or increases the nausea.  This afternoon is the town's Christmas craft fair that the kids have been looking forward to and I have promised to take them to it. That should be fun. Oh the life of a mom.

My SIL shared this with me, all moms should go read this post. It made me laugh on this sick icky day.