We can stop mass shootings if…!
Since Columbine in 1999, more than 338,000 students in the U.S. have experienced gun violence at school, with over 19,000 people shot and wounded or killed in a mass shooting since 2015.
The mother of Michigan High School shooter Ethan Crumbley, age 15, was recently convicted of four counts of involuntary manslaughter. Her husband goes on trial on March 5th. The defense attorney stated that this case is “dangerous” for parents everywhere.
Parents have been put on notice: you will be held accountable!
America has a culture of young people lacking family support, values, and a spiritual understanding of self. Society, and ultimately families, pay a high price as children’s mental health problems increase and engage in self-harm and violent behavior. Many young people do not value themselves or others because no one has taught them about the power of the human spirit.
All babies are born with a unique path to success but need adult love, guidance, and support. No one knows what happens behind closed doors, but children can tell the difference between expressions of love, disapproval, and anger. As a toddler, I remember standing in my crib, putting my fingernail under the seam of the wallpaper, and tearing it off. My parents were upset and angry with me when they saw scrapes of wallpaper in my crib. Remembering this incident, I know children feel trauma when they experience belittling and mental or physical abuse. An adult’s tone of voice, expressions, anger, and actions influence a child’s self-image.
When adults control children rather than empower them, they disrespect a child’s understanding of who they are and interfere with a child’s life journey. Parents must give children the tools they need to protect themselves. Without emotional support, children may blame themselves, which can destroy self-worth and self-confidence and lead to a variety of life-changing problems in the future.
How can youth discover a path to prosperity and learn to value themselves and others?
Children are born with many abilities and various skills and talents, including the imagination to dream big, develop a sense of humor, and be creative, with insights that set them apart from the crowd. In addition, they have an instinct to be warned of danger, the resilience to bounce back from adversity, which develops courage, and a self-protective conscience that can keep them safe and healthy.
Every parent’s mission should be to guide and empower children from within. A spiritual understanding of self teaches young people how to handle their emotions to help them navigate life’s challenges.
I learned how to survive and become resilient the hard way. I grew up in a family with abuse, alcoholism, and divorce. My mother’s live-in boyfriend led to my abandonment in Mexico City at age 15, and I didn’t speak the language. Later in life, my experience led me to become a crime and violence prevention specialist. I also worked with drug addicts and the homeless and learned from them what they never learned as children.
Parents can make life easier for children if they understand the power of the human spirit. When one becomes spiritually centered, one can ignore off-centered bullies and will not become victims of negative influences. Youth will value themselves and discover their path. No matter what happens in life, everyone has the power to grow stronger and more resilient, making life healthier and safer for everyone. Our national goal should be to empower children, which can stop mass shootings and create a stronger, more resilient American society. To assist parents, check out Empowerment Parenting: How to Raise Resilient Children Who Become Happy, Self-reliant Adults and Magical YOU: Empowering Teens to Stay Safe and Healthy in an Unsafe World. www.safekidsnow.com.
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Originally Published on https://safekidsnow.com/
