With recent and senseless shootings in places like Seattle,
Wash., and Aurora, Colo., our country is dealing with heavy
issues of tragedy, conflict and war. And while many adults
struggle to find meaning and understanding in such events,
parents are sometimes left struggling to answer those same
questions for their children. "It is difficult for us to process
these things on our own," says Dr. Susan Kaneshiro, a clinical
psychologist and program chair of the counseling programs at
Argosy University, Orange County. "For parents, it can be even
harder to know what, how much and how often to discuss these
matters with children." "Whether you are a military family that
deals with a loved one deploying to a combat zone or you are a
parent whose child has seen the news about the tragic shootings
in Colorado and wants to know if it is safe to go to the movies
anymore, parents often overlook the effect these crises can have
on their children," says Dr. William Clough, professor of
pastoral community counseling at Arg