I try to be a positive person, but sometimes it’s hard to feel positive. Especially with the events occurring around our nation, county and towns. It seems like every day brings another story of homicide, gun violence in schools, mental health crises, vaping in the schools, domestic violence. If I get depressed just reading and writing about it, think how law enforcement and first responders feel. They deal with it day in and day out while trying to keep our communities safe.

When I heard about Amy Theis’ death in River Falls, my heart sank. I didn’t know her well, but she rode my bus at one point growing up and we went to the same high school, a couple of years apart. Her brother was in my grade. She died in such a senseless, needless way. I can’t even begin to imagine what her family is going through. My heart aches for them all, and I thank those who reached out and spoke to me about her. I know that wasn’t easy. I appreciate it more than you know.

I know there is no easy answer to address any of this. I know police, social workers, teachers and countless others work tirelessly to prevent tragedies, to keep people safe. Parents too. But personally, I think we as parents can do better to shape our children into good, solid citizens. And believe me, I know it’s not easy. I have four myself.

At a youth event this past weekend, I heard a mother swearing and screaming at her children, using the F-word. I don’t know what they did to make her so angry, but I do know there is no excuse for that kind of behavior, especially in public. One little girl was so upset that she wouldn’t even come up to get an award she had won, because she was too busy crying while her mother sat in the car. Kids learn behavior from their parents and peers.

At area school board meetings, parents speak out against schools teaching social-emotional learning. They say schools should stick to reading, writing and ‘rithmetic. Those foundations are absolutely and undeniably important. But maybe those parents should take a minute to request and read the weekly police blotters. We don’t put them all in the paper to protect the privacy of juveniles, but there is an astounding number of juvenile mental health or suicide calls each week. One area child tried to overdose on pills on a school bus last week. What kind of pain is that child going through to think that that’s the answer? Kudos to our schools for attempting to teach kids how to get through hard times, to learn coping skills, that they have a safe place at school. They should be applauded instead of chastised.

Teachers don’t have it easy these days. I’m married to one. Teachers are very limited in what they can say or do to get a child to behave. Many parents blame the teacher when the child misbehaves rather than holding their child accountable. “My Johnny would NEVER do something like that” is a common mentality. A teacher in a neighboring district (not in Pierce) was written up for sending a school board member’s child to the office for causing a disturbance in class. Seriously? If I came home with a note from a teacher growing up, you can bet my grandpa addressed it. I learned quickly to respect and listen to teachers or I’d face wrath at home – and deservedly so.

I might be sounding simplistic, that parents can prevent all the bad things in the world by raising good kids. I know there’s way more to it than that. But it’s a start, isn’t it? We have to start somewhere.