I seriously don’t know why I watch the news. I’ve said before that it’s comforting because it reminds me of the olden days when my parents had the same ritual of turning it on as they settled in for the night. But even before the Russian invasion into Ukraine, it’s been a consistent horror show.

I still must watch. If I miss it, I feel off. I realize it’s become almost an addiction for me … and it very well may be.

I learned in my college Advertising class (the one where I’m convinced my professor straight up stole my project idea and sold it to Bird’s Eye – name and all: Chicken Violá — still sold in freezer sections today) that when you go to the movies, shots of popcorn, soda, candy, etc. are cut into the film during the previews. They appear so quickly that you don’t even know you saw it, yet it subliminally suggests that you need that giant tub of buttery, delicious, artery-clogging goodness for a mere $300.00.

I think this must be what the news does, but instead of popcorn pictures, they have somehow found a way to inject pure heroin into my veins through Lester Holt’s robotic, “I look like I’m smiling even when I’m not smiling” face.

Poor Lester. I used to love him so much but the pandemic days ruined him. His producers began making him end each broadcast with the syrupy-sweet catchphrase, “Take care of yourselves…and each other.” Barf. Or as the kids say nowadays – it’s so cringe.

I’m convinced he doesn’t even want to say it anymore, but now it’s “his thing” and he can’t get rid of it. Maybe he can phase it out like Ross Gellar did with his British accent 🤷🏻‍♀️

Anyway, as if the news isn’t depressing enough, last night the parents of a promising young soccer star were interviewed because their daughter just died by suicide.

The dad made a statement that really hit home. He said to check on the strong people; the ones who always seem to have it together. The ones who everyone depends on to handle things because they’re “the strong ones.” Check on them because they’re the ones who will never tell you that something is wrong.

It’s priceless advice and I plan on enacting it today.

I’m always worried about my one son who openly tells me about his struggles, and grateful that I don’t have to worry about my other son because he seems just fine.

This poor father made me realize how wrong I might be. Just because my son doesn’t express things like his brother, it doesn’t mean there are never any problems bubbling under the surface.

I’ve always thought he puts way too much pressure on himself, and I constantly tell how proud I am of him no matter what. But there are things I could do better to make sure he keeps his stress in check.

One is how I tell him he’s going to be President one day. I say it jokingly, however, in his mind, he might be thinking, “I really need to become President or something equally as great to impress Mommy.”

Nope, uh-uh. That’s not ok.

He loves computers. I’m going to start telling him that I think he’d be really great at creating games for a living. I’ll let him know it would be a lot more fun and way less pressure than becoming President.

Because as much as I think I know my kids better than they know themselves, we never really know what is going on in their precious, delicate little minds. From now on, I will never take for granted that any of them are “just fine.”