My daughter gave me this illustration tonight.
It’s things like this that make the long hours, days away and hard work worth it. There are times that I really feel like a shitty mom, even though I know I’m not. I’m humbled that she’s proud of me.
I have always been pulled in 1,000 different directions, long before 2/14. Since the event, its grown exponentially. I have traveled more for work, spent long hours at my computer, taken thousands of phone calls and done hundreds of interviews. I have been present at home, and yet very busy and not always as attentive as I used to be.
The impact of 2/14 doesn’t just impact me. It ripples out to my husband and my children, to my parents and my brother, to my relatives near and far, to my friends and those who follow my journey on social media and here on the blog.
I feel the weight of my responsibility to be a spokesperson, a voice. Perhaps it’s self-imposed. Perhaps it’s my true calling. Perhaps it just doesn’t matter why… it’s what I must do.
As a parent, you want your children to make you proud, to grow up to be intelligent, free-thinking, independent, productive members of society. It’s a true blessing to know that they are proud of you, and that you inspire them.
You can order your own copy of “Parkland Speaks” online and anywhere books are sold.