Thinking the Unthinkable: On Mental Health, My Son, and Gun Violence

[xchrom]

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/12/16-5


Michael holding a butterfly.

Three days before 20 year-old Adam Lanza killed his mother, then opened fire on a classroom full of Connecticut kindergartners, my 13-year old son Michael (name changed) missed his bus because he was wearing the wrong color pants


“I can wear these pants,” he said, his tone increasingly belligerent, the black-hole pupils of his eyes swallowing the blue irises.

“They are navy blue,” I told him. “Your school’s dress code says black or khaki pants only.”

“They told me I could wear these,” he insisted. “You’re a stupid bitch. I can wear whatever pants I want to. This is America. I have rights!”

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. I have two boys who do that sort of thing. One is angrier about it, the other just

shuts down and cries (usually.)

Luckily I haven't' seen it lately. We've learned to cope over the years and try to avoid getting into those situations in the first place, but sometimes it still comes up anyway.

[rainlillie]

2. Thank you..

For posting this.