Tues. Mar. 1, 2022

Imagine

Allison Dudas

If we were living in Ukraine, my three children and I would have already said goodbye to my husband, their father. Men between the ages of 18 and 60 are not allowed to leave the country. They are required to stay and fight for their nation against this unprovoked invasion.

Every time I looked at my husband yesterday, I started to tear up. I imagined what it must feel like for these families who, not long ago, were living in peace. Going to work, attending school, meeting friends for coffee, scrolling Instagram. Now? Their apartment buildings are being bombed and they are fleeing their homes. They are hiding out in subway stations and basements. It must feel surreal to them. And terrifying.

Imagination is one of the most important aspects of being a human. It's critical for us to be able to go to a place where we can picture living another's reality. This radical use of our imagination reminds us how connected we all are. That, on the other side of the world, there is a mother just like me. Who loves her children as much as I do. Who is trying to make sense of the world.

So while you may be tempted not to "go there" and instead look away, I invite you to pay attention. It's painful, yes, but it's reality. We cannot stand by and pretend all is well. We must open our hearts to the people of this world. We must ask "what can we do?" and then act.

We need each other.

This reflection was adapted from a post by Seacoast Moms Blog, including a list of organizations whose work you can both amplify and donate to support Ukrainian families navigating the unfathomable realities of war: