“There was a bad guy running around town, but the police caught him.” My daughter’s words echo two years after the Boston Marathon Bombing. At just shy of three years old during the incident, I never imagined she would retain such a vivid memory of being confined indoors on what was a stunning spring day. I certainly hadn’t anticipated having to explain to her that there are people out there who can cause harm. It was a tough lesson in the reality that sometimes we must let those sworn to protect us take charge.
As parents, our instinct is to protect our little ones from pain and fear. Yet, reality often has other plans. We strive to make sense of the unfathomable, to soothe their worries, and to shield them from the world’s harsher truths. April 15, 2013, was one of those days when the lives of three remarkable individuals were lost to an act of senseless violence, thrusting our community into a palpable mix of fear and unity.
In the days that followed the bombing, we stayed close to our children, waiting and watching as the hunt for the perpetrator unfolded right in our backyards. We remained indoors, praying, and hoping for the safety of those we loved. And as time passed, our kids, seemingly in suspended animation, began to recall those events.
This experience has taught me that while we can’t always shield our children from the harshness of life, we can help them learn to understand and navigate it. On that fateful spring day when we were told to stay inside, my daughter and I created a huge sign to thank the first responders, which we proudly hung out of our window. We talked about how the brave men and women of the police and fire departments were out there protecting us, ensuring our safety. We snuggled up with extra storybooks and fostered a sense of togetherness. Yet, we also became a bit more cautious—more aware of crowds and less inclined to let our children roam freely.
But we cannot let fear dictate our lives. Doing so would rob our children of their innocence—the very essence of childhood itself. I know Boston stood resilient against fear. We banded together, embodying the spirit of “Boston Strong,” and today we continue to uphold that strength.
Let us honor the words of the bombing’s youngest victim, Oliver Reed, who expressed a simple yet powerful message: “No more hurting people. Peace.”
In loving memory of Ava Thompson, Jake Collins, Lucy Wang, and Oliver Reed.
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