In light of the recent gorilla uproar and public shaming that has ensued, I want to share my story.
7 years ago, I would have been the person in your news feed sharing articles that shamed the boy's mother. Ones that said the gorilla was doing a better job protecting the child than she was. Ones encouraging moms to put down their cell phones and parent their kids. I was a sancti-mommy before I was even a mommy.
But last week, I lost my daughter.
We were in a convention center attending a high school graduation. One moment my not-quite-two-year-old was standing by my mother, the next she was gone. It was like a scene from a movie.
And do you want to know the very first thought that ran through my mind??
"Oh, my God. I'm going to be on the news. They'll tear me apart."
I was terrified. All of a sudden my legs weighed 2000 pounds each. Panic welled in my throat. I took off in one direction and my mother took off in the other, each frantically looking and calling her name.
We found her in less than a minute, but let me tell you- that was the absolute longest minute of my life. And, it was in that minute, that I realized how quickly life could change.
So please, stop the shaming. The judging. The mean comments and eye rolls. They aren't helpful.
Instead, reach out. A kind word. A kind look. A smile, a nod. Grace. Understanding. These are the things that make a difference in this world and they just so happen to be the things we need more of.
