Kids are more in tune with world affairs than you might realize. As a matter of fact, there has been a rise in minors using Twitter to keep up with the news.  

While it’s great that they’re interested in staying up to date, kids can get more and more anxious and fearful. 

So, although they might seem ok or unphased about what’s going on, start asking questions. The first thing you want to know is how much they know.

Before you start this conversation with them, consider a game plan. You might be surprised about what they could tell you. 

  First of all, ask open-ended questions. Example: What have your friends been sharing about the conflict in Ukraine? How do you and your friends feel about the school shootings in the U.S.? 

  Validate their feelings. Kids have a right to feel what they feel because their emotions are real to them.  

  Answer their questions with the truth. When you do this, adjust your language...

It’s been a heavy week, hasn’t it? 

There were several shootings this week, but the one that’s been highlighted the most is the one in Uvalde, Texas.

I have to be honest. I have been avoiding reading or listening to a lot of it because my emotional bandwidth just can’t take it right now. That doesn’t mean I don’t care. I certainly do. But, I have to limit my consumption of things that I am aware will be too much to handle at the time.

One thing I've had to do regardless of how I feel is to check in with my kids to find out how they're doing. I know that the answers might not be ideal. I don’t expect them to feel like the world is an amazing place and that they will feel 100 percent safe and secure. 

But, I want to make sure that they know I am there for them and that they can ask me any questions. 

That’s the job of a parent, right? No matter what is going on, we never stop being there for our kids. 

So, I want...