Pupils at a Ladysmith high school were reminded this morning of how tenuous our link to this mortal coil is when they were informed that one of their own had been lost.

It is a startlingly familiar scenario that has played itself out in many of Ladysmith’s schools over the last few years.

As information technology swamps us with all the modern idioms and norms expected of people in our society, our children slowly lose their innocence.

Don’t get me wrong, this is not a tirade against the advancement of smartphones and the ‘googliness’ of our ever-advancing society, but an appeal to parents not to forget their own childhoods.

I remember as a child swimming in rivers of dirty water, diving off hillsides and trusting that the bushes and vines would slow me down on the way down, hours of clod fights and living for living’s sake.

Friends were for keeps – we fought, laughed and played together. We were free to explore and lessons were learned the hard way with bruises, bumps and the occasional heartbreak.

But mommy and daddy were always there to soothe our pains, laugh with us (not at us) and were the examples we followed.

Now we keep our children behind high fences and locked doors, protected from the outside world as best we can. We, ourselves, have become slaves to technology. “Liking” your child’s post on Facebook is not social interaction.

We have to understand that no TV channel or smartphone app can replace us just being there. Living, loving and being ourselves for our children.

Because now their every mistake is a Snapchat, WhatsApp, BBM or YouTube video away. We have allowed our children to invite the world into their lives, flaws and all, without any restrictions.

Sadly, sometimes those born with gentle souls and soft hearts cannot deal with the consequences. An innocent mistake becomes an overpowering burden.

We, as parents and teachers, need to be there to remove the shame, guilt or burden and above all, never judge. But we can do none of this if we are not there!

To all the children out there reading this, if you are feeling suicidal or just need someone to listen without judgement, then contact Life Line on 0800055555.

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