December 14, 2012 was a tragic day in Newton, CT. Due to our transparent and viral media world today, most of the world was affected as we watched the news, trying to understand how such an unimaginable situation could have occurred. When we show expats from all over the world housing, it is hard to not get familiar. We are intrinsically involved in a family's very important and personal decision--deciding where to live. Naturally, the question of safety often comes up. Everytime, this topic comes up I am reminded how lucky we are in Sweden. My children have taken the bus, tube and train on their own since they were 8 years old. My 5-year old is outside by himself in our yard, our older kids ride their bikes to and from friends houses and this is normal. Compared to many of my Swedish friends, I am still considered over-protective. Perhaps, a lingering reminder of my upbringing in the United States where I could ride my bike in my immediate neighborhood, but no further; a classmate in 6th grade was nearly abducted on her way to school; kids kidnapped at the local mall and the school spent a lot of time educating us what to do if approached by a stranger. "Stranger Danger" was a catch phrase.
Driving my 16-year old daughter home from school today, I asked her if they had ever had a lock down drill in school. She looked at me perplexed and asked "what's a lock down drill?". I hope lock down drills will not become the "new reality" in Sweden because knock on wood, we have never had a Columbine or a Newton tragedy. I hope we never will. I hope that 10 years from now, I will still be able to relay to the incoming expats that children are safe in Sweden. I hope that our children can be children in Sweden and not have to worry about being gunned down in their school or kidnapped on their way to school. Childhood should be innocent and worry free.
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