Mum

E and I are getting ready to mum in the Philadelphia's Mummer's Day Parade.  She has wanted to do this for a few years and this year it has worked out that we are able to go.  My best friend has organized it for us and her house is on the parade route.  E is super excited as am I.  I hope to get lots of good pictures.
We are continuing to do our acts of kindness and it feels good to help others out. I'm thinking it should be like this all the time.  The Golden Rule, you know?
What are your New Year's Eve plans?

#26Acts

Reeling from Newtown I knew I had to do something.  I saw where Ann Curry started 20 Acts of Kindness (you can read more about it here  and it turned into 26 Acts of Kindness for the children and teachers of Sandy Hook. I decided to take part in doing this in their memories.  It won't bring them back (God how I wish I could make it never have happened) but to be doing these acts and reading about others paying it forward helps a little.

Sad

I am devastated with what happened in Newtown.  This has hit me hard. My heart goes out to all those families.  I keep thinking about those little ones and their teachers and all of their families.  I don't know how their families will go on.  Jack Pinto and Noah Pozner's viewings and funerals are today.  I will remember them and their classmates and teachers always. I pray for them every night.  I wish this never happened.
I work in the Kindergarten building in my school district as a teacher in a kindergarten readiness program. Maybe this is why (also having E, Peanut and Squeakers) has left me reeling.  I had to stand up front by the office this morning to make sure that anyone that was going to a classroom signed in and wore a visitor's badge.  It was so hard seeing all of the kindergarteners come in knowing that those little ones from Sandy Hook were not doing the same.  I saw moms and dads walk their children in and hug them and kiss them.  Because you just don't know anymore.  I greeted them all with good morning and a smile.  But it was hard.  I just wanted to cry.
I sent E to school with a hug and kiss as I always do.  You take it for granted that your child will be safe in school.  Because it is supposed to be a safe place.  You always expect them to come home.  For 26 families their loved ones will never come home.
I was awake Friday night thinking about the children, their teachers, principal and school psychologist.  They had to be positively identified before they could be taken from the school.  I kept thinking that they were laying on a cold floor and should be held by their loved ones.  Their moms and dads didn't get one last kiss and hug good bye.  It is so unfair.
Our schools have security guards that aren't armed.  They are all older and although I know they would do anything for the kids I don't think it's enough.  Anyone can be buzzed in.  In E's school (catholic) the office is on the 2nd floor.  Scary to think that anyone can get in and go anywhere.
I believe that if someone wants to get in and do something bad that they will.  I also believe that if you can slow them down and buy some time that that can make a world of difference.  That's what the principal Dawn Hochsprung did.  She turned on the intercom and bought them some time.
I do hope that we can do better. That things can change concerning school safety, gun control and mental health.
I will always remember those innocent lives lost in Newtown forever.  I hope you do too.