“I’m tired and scared and tired of feeling scared. I’m scared of sending my daughters to school, to large public events, and in my more difficult moments, anywhere beyond my front door. I have fantasies about dressing them in Kevlar suits and helmets and homeschooling them in the basement. But then I take a deep breath (or 12) and remember that this is not actually how I want to raise my girls. I want to find ways to support the families affected by the tragedies, to let go of my anxiety, and make choices based on the parent I want to be, rather than the parent I find myself becoming in the aftermath of each of these tragedies.”

My suggestions for how parents can take care of themselves in the aftermath of yet another national tragedy are up on Kveller.com.