The State of Our Children

I’m considerate of the subject matter I choose to write and publish on awakened-woman.

I felt compelled to address the elephant in the room. Thank you for reading. Hopefully, you will share my personal message with as many people as possible.

The past couple weeks have been difficult for hundreds of families. As a mother, I’m increasingly concerned not just for my daughter but for the state of society’s youth in general. Even if you aren’t a parent at this time in your life, you might be in the future. If not, it’s your brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, cousins, neighbor’s or friend’s children being affected in some way.

The world can’t get away from the images. News reports loop stories of immigrant children being shuffled around without parents due to changes in political agendas. Most recently, on the 20th of June in New York City a mother’s child was taken too soon. In a case of mistaken identity, a group of young men savagely ended the life of Lesandro Guzman-Feliz (nicknamed Junior) from the Bronx. The boy was 15-years old, participant of NYPD’s Explorers youth program. According to his family he had dreams of becoming a detective of the NYPD someday. Now, that goal will never come to fruition. A family shattered, robbed of their vision – to see their baby boy grow into a man. The attackers were barely of legal age. There are similar stories rampant in US cities.

Like many people, I’ve asked myself why are these horrific acts of violence taking place? It is disturbing to think that human beings have become so disconnected from one another slowly causing many to lose value of a life? Have children become so desensitized to violence that they are blind to the depravity of crimes they’re committing?

Today is the last day of classes for students in New York City. Some will go visit families in other places. While others attend summer school or work. There will be those that remain in limbo until a new school year begins. What will they occupy their time with this summer? Leaders of communities and law enforcement must start working closer with families on prevention. Work as a team to do something before bad things happen, again. Children are impressionable learning behaviors at a young age. If the they are the future shouldn’t we invest in them? Offer hope for realization of their dreams?

My thoughts and prayers go out today to the families who have to deal with a life without their babies.

Thank you for paying it forward.

“Protected content. 2018 awakened-woman.com”