There comes a point, in situations, when information given should be enough information received. I have often found it interesting in this ‘instant information’ world how much people press for details. But truthfully, there comes a time when more information will do little to change our individual world.
It is a given that when someone needs help, the internet becomes a great place to get the word out and get the word out quickly. Someone is missing, someone is lost. In these cases it is imperative to get the word out through as many channels as possible. What a powerful tool we have in today’s world.
Another means of instant sharing is when there is a death. Whatever the reason. It is shared and people within the community send condolences. Our grandparents, parents, a loved one, and sometimes even a child. When we hurt, it’s a wonderful feeling of comfort to know that there is a world out there who will care enough to let you know they are thinking about you. It is why we ‘put it out there’ hoping that someone we know, even peripherally, will see it and let us know they are thinking about us. Being comforted is a good thing.
I also think it is an important point to remember that the details ‘released’ of each situation are up to the family going through it. They will decide to release facts and/or information they want or are needed. Once they have released whatever it is they have shared, once they choose to share no more information……that’s it. They are under no obligation to share anything more than what they choose to share. They do not owe it to anybody. It is not owed to us.
Sometimes there are many facts released (location, appearance, important info etc,)and, let’s say, there is resolution and someone posts, “The Child is Found and is Safe”. That may be all we read, and truthfully, no more information is needed.
Now in as much as we may feel, or think, that knowing details ‘might’ help us in the management of our child, to make sure ‘it doesn’t happen to us’; honestly—-in all of those horrible incidents I have heard or read about over the years, not one fact influenced what I do/did with my kids living with diabetes. Hearing about it was enough for me to go over my mental check list, as these incidents do, but no detail ever surfaced that made me say, I have to change everything.
We are inquisitive by nature. We want to know so we can learn. But it always must be understood that what a family chooses to share, or not share, is their choice. Knowing every detail of why a child went missing, or details surrounding someone’s death, or even surrounding a horrific incident; keep your mind open, listen, and know that sometimes we do not NEED to know all of the details.
It’s a good thing to understand because I can tell you from much experience, many times the details will stay with the family because in all honesty; it really isn’t our business, is it?
I am a diabetes dad.
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