One Mom’s Reaction to Recent Violence and Destruction in Richmond
The latest group attacks on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University have got my mind spinning. These were unprovoked attacks on unsuspecting individuals. These individuals were minding their own business when a group of nearly 15 (maybe more) young adults and teens descended up on them. The individuals were punched and one had property removed from his person after being punched to the ground.
Three individuals connected to these attacks have now been arrested (see the article in the Richmond Times Dispatch). It seems two of the three are related and they are adults. The third is a teen and his name has not been released. While I am thankful that arrests have been made, it leaves me wondering, “Why?”
I do not understand violence. I do not understand how one can just walk up to a person and for no reason punch them. It makes no sense to me. Who does this kind of thing and what is happening in their head that makes them think this is acceptable behavior? It makes me think back to the golden rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Is that still taught?
This weekend, someone set fire to the playground at Woodville Elementary School in the City of Richmond’s east end. The brand new playground melted in a matter of moments. School started two days later. The children, who were excited about the new playground that awaited them, now have no school playground. Again, I am wondering, “Who does this? Why would someone do this?”
I do not have the answers to my questions. I wish I did, because then maybe I could move forward in an effort to thwart this kind of behavior. What I do know is that as a mother, it makes me want to try even harder to teach my children about respect. I hope that my children will never choose violence or destruction as a cure for boredom. I hope that my children will stop and think about the risks and consequences for their behaviors prior to committing to a behavior. I hope that my children will choose to be respectful of others and their property. Most of all, I hope that I am an example to my children of how we should treat others, and that rules are made to protect us and others and that we should do our best to follow the rules, even when others around us are choosing not to follow those rules.
I know many of us try and shelter our children from the harsh realities of this world, but occasionally we should take these situations and make them into teachable moments for our children. Turn these bad incidents into good life lessons for teaching our children about respect, how to treat others and that all choices in life result in a consequence of some kind. Our children deserve for us to teach them respect. It all begins at home.
