You Better Watch Out, You Better Not Cry

 Ah, the holidays. Candy canes and silver lanes aglow. Figgy pudding and decked halls. A joyous time for all. 

Except for those who are not: safe, warm, fed. So the good news here is that there are some things we can do about those last two. Homeless shelters would be happy to receive  your generous donation, especially at this time of year. Ditto that for food banks. In spite of all that has happened over the past nine months, we continue to be the richest country on the planet. No one should have to spend the holidays sleeping on the street, foraging for food. 

But what about the safety part? I am not just talking about masks here. I am talking about violence. Domestic abuse has gone up worldwide since the onset of the pandemic. The end of the year is already a watershed for stress, and the seeds that have been planted over the past few months will quite likely take root this winter. Shopping, managing gatherings, celebrations that don't end well, stuck inside: these are all part of a syndrome that was already well known and has only been exacerbated by COVID-19 and its restrictions. 

I bring this up because I am all too familiar with the fallout. As an elementary school teacher, I am regularly confronted by the children who are afraid and confused because their home is suddenly falling apart at what should be the happiest part of the year. This year, in particular. I am aware of three families who are splitting up even as we inch ever closer to the end of one of the worst years that any of us can recall. Mothers who are attempting to flee with their children, but caught in the bind of being able to provide the necessities. They want their kids to stay in school, but that requires a computer and an Internet connection currently. And dad has decided that these items will not be released. 

We will do what we can to bridge this gap, but these are the women who have been brave enough to contact us. Fathers can face many of the same challenges when a relationship hits the rocks, but they usually don't seek help because of pride. No one should have to suffer needlessly in this time of intense volatility. 

So, if you've stuck with me this far, here's the good news: You can help these folks too. There are plenty of ways to donate, volunteer and speak out. We are a nation of survivors, and it is my hope that we will all have a chance to look back on 2020 as "the worst year ever" from the safety and comfort of 2021.