I admit that I have not followed the media coverage of the Casey Anthony trial. I followed some of the news a few years ago during the search for Caylee and hoped, like the rest of the world, that they would find the little girl.
But, today I tuned in to the news to follow some of the coverage of the not guilty verdict. I have my own opinions of the verdict and the case in general, but they really have nothing to do with what this whole fiasco taught me today.
As I was watching the coverage of the verdict, my 7 year old daughter came into the living room and asked what all that news coverage was about. I explained to her in the most appropriate terms that a mommy was accused of hurting her daughter, but that the courts decided she didn't do it. She watched the screen for a few moments looking puzzled. Then she said to me "I hope she didn't do it because mommies don't ever hurt their children." Then she walked away.
It was my turn to look puzzled. Then I realized something.
My daughter, my beautiful, intelligent daughter lives in a world where it is impossible to imagine a parent hurting a child. She lives in a world of innocence, laughter, rainbows, and sunshine. Somehow we have created a home, a life where she feels so loved and safe that bad things just aren't imaginable.
And I want to treasure that. I want to cling to it.
I want to be thankful that she is thriving in a childhood that allows her the rainbows and sunshine - that she has the opportunity to live in the moments of just being a young girl - free from the reality of what exists in the sometimes dark world of adults.
It may have taken the trial of the century to make me aware of that rare gift, but I couldn't be more thankful for that moment with her.
And the reminder that the rainbows and sunshine do still exist in the world.
Originally published on hooey!critic, Neena's personal blog about the adventures and misadventures of motherhood.
