Dan and I are babysitting our five-year old grand girls this week while their parents enjoy a well-deserved vacation. It has been a marvelous and joyous stay-cation. So far, we have gone to a splash pad, the library, a local ‘Mallards” baseball game (it was super hero night!) , the children’s museum, picked strawberries at a local farm, ran through the sprinkler in the backyard, and visited the zoo — and the week is only half over.
Grandpa Dan keeps the girls giggling! At the splash pad, the girls filled up their cups with water and would sweetly ask Grandpa to pick them up; when he did, they would ‘surprise’ him by dumping the water on his head. It was hysterical EVERY time, and Grandpa never seemed to catch on!
We have taken oodles of pictures on our phones during the week; we know how quickly this week will pass and how precious those memories will be.
One picture from the zoo haunts me. The zoo has a photo opportunity for children to appear as if they are in an exhibit. As a result, I have a picture of my two precious, Mexican-American grand-daughters peering out from behind bars–in a cage. This picture (attached to this post with their faces purposely blurred out) feels like a punch in the gut every time I look at it. It is a close-to-the-heart reminder of our inhuman treatment of families who seek asylum within our borders.
Zero Tolerance – Children in Cages
I am saddened and ashamed to live in a country where our leaders simply do not care about ‘others’. This horrific lack-of-humanity has manifested itself with this Administration’s self-righteous eagerness to rip children, including nursing infants, from their parents arms.
The D’s Administration created this nightmare of a policy, and are now trying to look like heroes for changing it. You can’t have it both ways – you can’t set the fire and then receive a medal for ceasing to pour more fuel on the flames, especially after it has already scorched so much earth and ruined so many lives.
Sadly, it is not a surprise that The D, an admirer of cruel and ruthless dictators, has absolutely no regard for the life or welfare of others, particularly if those ‘others’ happen to be brown or black.
Tonight, Dan, the girls and I ate strawberry shortcake with strawberries we picked this afternoon. I gave the girls a bath, there were many giggles while we wrestled them into their PJs; we brushed their hair and their teeth, we read them books, and lovingly tucked them into bed. They are with family that loves them and they are safe. Yet, my heart aches knowing that so many children are needlessly terrified and among strangers tonight.