People in the Swamp

Asher often interrupts a conversation or bursts into a room talking about a random TV show, a dream, or story he’s picked up somewhere. Tonight, while my friend and I were talking and making dinner, was no different… and yet it was…

Asher comes walking into the kitchen and says- “People got lost in the swamp… they couldn’t get out… they got stuck or something?” *Shrugs* ”And then they died.”

Confused, and a little shocked, I ask- “What people?”
He shrugs- “I dunno… the people”

Me, still confused- “Was this a dream you had? Another bad dream??”
Him- “Nooo not a dream…”

Me – “Did you watch a show at daddy’s house last night?”
Him- “No…”

I was almost laughing, trying to figure out what he watched or where the heck he would’ve seen people getting stuck in a swamp. I started having flashbacks of my poor parenting choice to show him The Neverending Story and dealing with his trauma over Artax dying in the swamps of sadness…

We had a bit more back and forth about it and I could tell he was getting uncomfortable, when he revealed-

“I saw it on the news”… (I realized at that moment he had seen the picture of the man, with his young daughter on his back, who were trying to cross the river looking for refuge in America, but had drowned and were found face down in the sand of the riverbank. That photo circulated widely)

I froze. I saw the look on my friends’s face who had also turned pale. I looked down and saw Asher’s eyes, wide and wet, like he had said something wrong, like he was scared, confused, not sure what to believe…

Me- “Ohhh wow.. yes Asher, there was a story in the news today about some people who got stuck in a “swamp” in the water… it was very sad. I’m sure that was scary to see.. but we’re safe here, yes? You are safe.”

I tried to give him his juice and walk him back into the living room to move the conversation on to happier things, and he responded with- “But we have a swamp…”
(We do have a swamp in our back yard that we have gone exploring in before)

I kept escorting him into the living room as I could feel my voice cracking and tears welling up in my eyes.. I responded with something like- yes we do, but that’s why we’re always together when we go back there and that we always stay safe by the water so that we don’t get stuck or hurt… He didn’t seem to notice my hesitation at that point and went right back to watching a show.

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I write this now with tears in my eyes again. I am devastated that we live in a country that values money over people, fear over love, and borders over lives. That we have allowed “immigration policy” to become concentration camps (again).

As heartbreaking as it is to know that my 4yo son has been exposed to the trauma of seeing a man and child die in attempt for freedom, I am even more devastated that hundreds/thousands of children are alone and uncared for. And even worse; being abused and their basic needs neglected.

What some people seem to be missing is that families- parents- are so desperate for a better life that they attempt to cross dangerous waters (and risk death) instead of turning back. These people are risking it ALL for their children, to have a better life away from violence. And when they come, if they even make it, we are putting them in cages….

We are going to have to answer to our children someday when they ask us what we did to stop this madness.