How Could This Happen?

It takes a lot to make me cry.

However, having two daughters in elementary school, the tragedy in Connecticut made me break down while working at home alone.

I hesitated calling my husband, someone who cries more readily than his seasoned journalist wife.

However, thinking of our two children, I found myself dialing his cell phone without making a hard decision.I choked out the words.

Just last night, we were crammed with other parents in our daughters’ school auditorium watching our daughter, Julia, 8, and her classmates belt out winter-related songs.

We told our oldest, Charlotte, 10, that it was too crowded for us to save her seat if she decided to hang outside the auditorium, prior to the performance with her friends, who also had younger siblings performing.

On Wednesday morning, we were all soaring from a school visit from Hampton native and Olympic Gold Medalist in track, Francena McCrory.

Today, we are set to have two holiday parties, one for Charlotte’s dance team followed by my husband’s work party following the babysitter arriving.

My husband kissed me good-bye this morning, with a smile, and mentioned the fun evening we had planned. Amazing how quickly a mood can change.

It is frightening that this could be any school in any city. It is scary how a person can take truly innocent lives from their parents and families.

It goes without saying that many of us, who sometimes take seeing their children after school lightly, will have emotional reunions this afternoon.