My middle school children faced a shattering loss today in school. A very beloved seventh grade teacher was killed yesterday afternoon in an automobile accident. We live in a small county where everyone knows everyone and the emotional impact was tremendous.

The entire school, teachers and students, spent the whole day crying. I’d debated on whether or not to even send my 7 middle schoolers to school at all. I didn’t even know how to tell them this at breakfast. Through my own tears, I let them know what had happened.

My children stared at me in abject bewilderment. Losing a mom is only supposed to happen to them (in their minds); former foster kids from Texas, not to teacher’s kids in an affluent, yet rural county, where bad stuff seems to never happen. This teacher had two kids, a senior in high school and an eighth grade son, plus a devoted, very likeable husband.

They’d only recently moved from a house very near ours to a piece of land, some of my older sons had helped them move. This husband had been the boss of my 20 year old son who’d been employed in a manufacturing position. Their daughter had grown up in school and playing sports with my daughter Vanessa. Their son is in classes with another of my sons.

I’d worked with this teacher years ago, retiring from the middle school where she still worked. I’d known her well, respected and admired her. She was a very positive, smart and popular woman.

My kids were devastated on every level. Could this happen to their mom? What will happen to these two kids? Will school go on? They simply have very few coping skills on a good day, factor in such a tremendous shock and loss, they are nearly rendered helpless.

I’m glad they did go to school today. There was something very comforting in grieving with other students and the entire faculty. Of course many counselors were added and no work at all was done at school.

The memorial service will be at our church and my middle schoolers are clamoring to go on Saturday. I’ll take them with me; I’m the daughter of a pastor and know well that this will give some sort of closure.