To be so affected by the Southport news

i also cried when I initially heard the news and then again when I saw the photos of the three little girls whose lives have been taken. I keep thinking of the other injured children too, what their families must be going through sitting in hospital, hoping they recover.

It’s so devastating, so beyond comprehension. I left my little boy at his summer holiday club today and I couldn’t imagine how a day full of sunshine and laughter with friends might turn into a life-changing tragedy. How can anyone make sense of it? I don’t think I could stand the grief.

My heart breaks for the children affected and their families. I will think of them for a long time.

Me too, I cuddled my DD extra tight and kissed her little cheek over and over at bedtime and must have told her I love her 50 times.

This really could happen to any of us at any time, it's so so horrific.

Heartbreaking, those poor children and their families. Can't stop thinking of them 😢💔

Sounds tough. I'd start your own thread though

I haven't voted but I imagined its the whole "as a mother" thing. It can get some people's backs up.

Me too, it has impacted me in a way that I can’t quite put into words, more than any other news story in a very long time.

I’ve cried and cried.

It's heartbreaking and I am tearful about it too. Can't bring myself to watch or read the news. I agree that before children I did not feel this deeply affected by such tragic events.

It’s got nothing to do with being a parent. It’s important to recognise the tragedies but unnecessary IMO to make it about oneself which is “as a mother…”.
It is heartbreaking for all those affected.

I haven’t been crying but when the pictures of the girls came out today, they’re just so little. One of the girls had lost her milk teeth at the front and her adult ones hadn’t come in yet. I just can’t get my head around someone targeting them.

I agree OP. I have a little toddler and the thought of something happening to her is just...it's beyond words for me. It makes me not even want to send her into nursery.

Those poor little girls and their families.

It hurts. I don't know them and it still hurts so much to see their smiling faces.

A person has done this. I just can't even comprehend it. Some people are just evil, it's horrifying.

I was at work when I heard the news of the 3rd child who had died. I went to the toilet and cried. It's just beyond comprehension and words. Evil beyond belief. It will devastate the whole community. Tragic isn't anywhere near a strong enough word.

It's just awful.
My heart is with the families. I can't even begin to think how they must be coping with this
It must be hell. Just horrendous.

It would mean there was even more wrong if we weren’t affected.
It was such a sudden, fast, unpredictable attack that could have happened anywhere. It’s natural to find that scary.
And we can all see a child or grandchild in those who lost their lives or are injured.
So your feelings are natural OP. All decent folk are upset, tearful, lost as we cannot see any sense in this at all. And there is absolutely nothing we can do to put it right which makes us feel helpless.

It's unimaginably shocking and sad and I too have been in tears. Those poor sweet innocent children.

I saw a news broadcast tonight where the presenter had to compose herself she was so upset

Agree, OP. I burst into tears on my train home and felt like a right idiot.

You are not being unreasonable at all. Amidst so many awful stories on the news everyday, some just hit extra hard and this is one of those ones for me too. It's so close to home in so many ways.
I would very gently suggest though that if you have recently had a baby, you try not to read or watch about it if it's affecting you like this. After my first baby, I had to change jobs because I no longer had the emotional resilience to deal with safeguarding cases in a role that meant a great deal to me. I went back to that role about four years later when I had settled into motherhood and felt able to cope again. Having a baby can shift the world on its axis and everything can feel raw and deeply personal. Try not to fixate on these events, I know it's hard. I just stopped watching the news for a while and couldn't watch films with challenging content either. Look after yourself.

Cried my eyes out when the news was on earlier and the youngest girls pic was shown with her beaming smile. Just cant comprehend it all.

Who on earth are the weird nearly 30% saying you’re being unreasonable?! 😳

Yes I'm the same. My daughters are in this age range and love making dances up to Taylor Swift. They would've loved to go to a holiday club like that and their pure innocence and sweetness
affects me.

The thought of that monstrous man storming in and hurting young girls makes me feel sick and tearful.

I am rarely brought to tears by the atrocities in the world but I really had a big sob earlier looking at those lovely children and trying to comprehend such an unnecessary waste

Everytime I’ve read something about it I’ve been brought to tears.

I took my children out this morning to a country park and later today to a library crafts session. Both outings I found myself musing that what happened in Southport could just as easily be me and my children in those settings.

Its heartbreaking.

FWIW OP I wasn’t like this before kids. I never paid much attention to the news bye now I take it all to heart.

It's hormones as well. It does put other worries and problems into perspective.

It's impossibly tragic, I've been so tearful today. Those poor poor families and the entire community. Heartbroken for them.