We picked our grandson up on the last day of school at the end of May. He was quiet. I assumed he was sad about school ending. Later he told me he watched a movie about climate change. Apparently it was graphic, because he is still terrified.
He sobbed and clung to me, saying "I don't want to lose my beautiful family, my beautiful world." He's nine years old. Holy Mother of God, that moment ripped open a hole in my heart that may never heal. For both of us. For all of us.
I don't want to lose my beautiful family, or my beautiful world either.
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I don't want to lose hope. While I do think it's a good idea to teach young people about climate change, I would rather it be done in a way that encourages them to be part of the solution. Breaking their hearts is not such a good way to start. I hope your grandson starts to feel better soon and starts to feel some sense of hope about what can be done.
ReplyDeleteWe are all (including his parents) talking about things we can do. Thank you. A world without hope is inconceivable. But in addition to hope, there must be action.
DeleteI feel so awful for the young ones, I am ready to check out but the future is bleak for our children/grandchildren. And yes we are grieving the inevitable. At least the dinosaurs never saw it coming, we have time to ponder and regret and be very very very sad.
ReplyDeleteWe have to do whatever we can for our children and grandchildren.
DeleteKids get it. Why can't we?
ReplyDeleteI wish I knew.
DeleteI can only continue recycling and making a tank of gas last two months.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine you leave a large carbon footprint, Joanne. We have to stop thinking we have to do everything. Instead, we have to do something, like you are doing. Every change, every step to reduce, recycle, and reuse is a step in the right direction.
DeleteIt's got to be scary for kids to hear all these warnings about climate change. Then again, I grew up with a fear of nuclear holocaust and remember crying to my parents about that. Earlier generations coped with disease and war and god knows what else. So I guess growing up and developing an awareness of the wider world is always going to be scary, in some respects!
ReplyDeleteIndeed, as long as there is a wider world left to be aware of.
DeleteI like your reply to Joanne.
ReplyDeletePoor boy. I hope enough of his generation have that same experience while young to shore up their resolve to do better than the previous generations at taking care of the earth..
I hope so, too.
DeleteI have hope for the future with young people who care like your grandson!
ReplyDeleteThe next generation seems goal oriented. That is a comfort.
DeleteHow does one limit kids exposure to something this terrifying and Oh So present? It is a scary truth.
ReplyDeleteI know. So many thoughts went through my head as I held him.
Delete"Anger that sinks into despair is powerless to make a change. Anger that evolves into conviction is unstoppable."
ReplyDeletea quote from Christiana Figueres (she was in charge of negotiating the Paris Agreement). I can recommend her book "The Future We Choose, The Stubborn Optimist's Guide to the Climate Crisis" because we do have a choice.
Thank you so much, Sabine. This sounds like just what I want to be reading right now. Outstanding quote. I understand despair, but I just can't go there.
DeleteSadly they are the Generation that will be way more affected by it all than those Generations before them that screwed it all up!
ReplyDeleteI feel for them. Strongly.
DeleteIt's so hard growing up, understanding what a mess the world is. Has it always been so?
ReplyDeleteExcellent question.
DeleteOne thing I'll always wish they taught from a young age: Live Simply so that Others May Simply Live. I don't remember where I first read that, but I love these words. We try to live by that motto and do our part. I just wish others would.
ReplyDeleteI like that. I look forward to reading your blog.
DeleteI've been trying to think of something clever or wise to comment, but I've got nothing. As long as the fiscal bottom line dictates "progress" we will continue to kill our planet.
ReplyDeleteBut I am happy to read that Florida schools are not denying the climate crisis.
Well, we live in Orange County. It is one of the consistently blue counties in Florida. I can't speak for the rest of the state. And there's a whole lot of the rest of the state.
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