All of us at TCRWP and in our community grieve with the families and educators of Uvalde. We sorrow for the parents and siblings and all of their families. We lament the children feeling terror and pain in a place where there should be laughter and joy. We grieve with the teachers, the school staff, the entire community of Uvalde.
We also know that educators and families will be seeking resources for these painful conversations. We've compiled a few resources that we hope can offer support for the difficult conversations you'll have with your own children and with your students.
The Child Mind Institute's Recommendations for Going Back to School After a Tragedy The Child Mind Institute's Video on Caring for Kids After a Traumatic Event Anti-Defamation League's Guide to Talking with Older Children about Gun Violence The National Association of School Psychologists Guide to Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers (available in 11 languages)
Lucy and the TCRWP Staff
On the Death of the Beloved by John O'Donohue
Though we need to weep your loss, You dwell in that safe place in our hearts Where no storm on night or pain can reach you.
Your love was like the dawn Brightening over our lives, Awakening beneath the dark A further adventure of color.
The sound of your voice Found for us A new music That brightened everything.
Whatever you enfolded in your gaze Quickened in the joy of its being; You placed smiles like flowers On the alter of the heart, Your mind always sparkled With the wonder at things.
Though your days here were brief, Your spirit was alive, awake, complete.
We look toward each other no longer From the old distance of our names; Now you dwell inside the rhythm of breath, As close to us as we are to ourselves.
Though we cannot see you with outward eyes, We know our souls gaze is upon your face, Smiling back at us from within everything To which we bring our best refinement.
Let us not look for you only in memory, Where we would grow lonely without you. You would want us to find you in presence, Besides us when beauty brightens, When kindness glows And music echoes eternal tones.
When orchids brighten the earth, Darkest winter has turned to spring; May this dark grief flower with hope In every heart that loves you.
May you continue to inspire us: To enter each day with a generous heart. To serve the call of courage and love Until we see your beautiful face again In that land where there is no more separation, Where all tears will be wiped from our mind, And where we will never lose you again.