Thursday, 26 May 2022

Families of the Texas school shooting speak out. Plus, tips to reduce anxiety in harrowing times. Here's the latest.

May 26, 2022 | VIEW IN BROWSER

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Families of the Texas elementary school shooting victims share their heartbreak and remembrances of the 19 children and two teachers who were killed, and more details emerge about the gunman's behavior before the attack. Also, a clinical psychologist shares the activity that helped traumatized children after the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012.

THE LATEST

Grieving families of Texas school shooting victims pay tribute: 'I will miss you forever.'

The families of the 19 children and two teachers who were killed by a gunman in the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, have shared their heartbreak over the staggering and senseless tragedy. The daughter of fourth grade teacher Eva Mireles tweeted a tribute to her "hero" mom, writing, "My sweet mommy, I will miss you forever." Angel Garza, the father of fourth grader Amerie Jo Garza, wrote on Facebook, "My sweet baby I love you so much. I will never be happy or complete again." Savannah Guthrie sat down with several family members to share their grief. "It's the longest day I've ever had," Steven Garcia, who lost his daughter Ellie, said. "Especially knowing I'll never see my daughter again." Watch that powerful segment on TODAY this morning at 7:30 a.m.

The Texas gunman posted on Facebook that he was going to 'shoot an elementary school' just minutes before the attack, governor said.

Salvador Ramos, 18, the gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas, posted "I'm going to shoot an elementary school" on Facebook 15 minutes before attacking the school, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said at a news conference. Ramos, a high school dropout with no known criminal history or record of mental illness, also wrote on Facebook that he had killed his grandmother before posting about the school, Abbott said. Chilling new video shows the gunman dressed in black and carrying a long gun as he runs into the school, law enforcement sources told NBC News.

Therapist shares a simple idea that helped traumatized kids feel calmer after Sandy Hook shooting.

A clinical psychologist who was working in Connecticut in 2012 when 20 students and six adults were shot and killed at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown shared how she helped children cope after such a traumatic event. "We had our kids draw pictures of scenery that made them feel calm — we then hung them up around the school — to make the other kids who were scared have something calm to look at," Campbell wrote in a Twitter thread yesterday. "But really, it gave the kids something to do that felt useful." Also, here's a guide about how to talk to children about the shooting.

🙏 Take a 'golden pause': 6 quick ways to reduce anxiety in 5 minutes or less.

We're all feeling that suffocating sense of heaviness right now. However, there are a few simple steps you can take to reduce stress and anxiety in your life. Start with your breath — rhythmic breathing is one of the best stress-reducing exercises that doesn't take much practice to learn. Another tip? Take a break from your phone, or what one expert charmingly referred to as a "golden pause." You can also try these 4 other methods for a break from the news cycle or your daily grind.

WHAT'S FOR DINNER?

Allow us to do the meal-planning for you.

Chef and cookbook author Grace Young stopped by to show us how to make four delicious and easy recipes inspired by her culinary roots. Try these Singapore noodles, one of the world's great street foods, packed with flavor from soy sauce, veggies and fresh ginger. Or, try your hand at cashew chicken, a satisfying vegetable lo mein, or this super simple Yang Chow fried rice with shrimp.