Midnight strikes and you are still not home from work. As I lay in bed, I think to myself whether or not you’ll come home tonight. When I finally fall asleep, my constant worry transforms into a dream and then I am awoken by the sunlight that peaks through my bedroom window. That’s when I hear your voice telling me it’s time to wake up. Unlike any other teenager, who would do anything to stay in bed, I leap out of bed, rejoicing that you made it home safely. On the mornings you aren’t home, I worry, but I taught myself to understand that you have to work extra hours to support our family. Having to tell my siblings a white lie to reassure them not to worry and that you are OK, even though I don’t know for sure, has been the hardest part.
What is it like to live your life wondering whether or not your parents will be home safely the next morning? I am the daughter of not one, but two, Chicago police officers. I was taught to have courage and resilience for there would be many days and nights that I wouldn’t see my parents because they were out fighting crime on the dangerous streets of Chicago. Whether they were working in district 16 or district 11, the worry never vanished. While I let you borrow my parents to keep you safe, I live a life of constant worry that my parents might not return home one day. However, despite my worry, there is this strange pride to being a policeman or policewoman’s daughter.
My parents work hard, long hours to protect the city of Chicago. The situations they see on a daily basis would probably make you sick to your stomach in an instant. Dealing with homicides, gang activity and narcotics, the Chicago police have to be quick on their feet and ready for the unexpected. Now, there is a lot of talk about police brutality and the horrifying situations that have appeared more recently. The police officers are the good guys. They are supposed to promote hope not fear. They work hard to keep you safe every day from the violent world that surrounds us. Today’s media enhances police brutality and makes it unsafe for our officers because it makes them targets. The more police brutality talk arises, the more likely I find it harder to live knowing that my parents are in more danger than they have ever been in before. These days just wearing the uniform can put their lives at risk.
There is not one right way to deal with having parents as police officers. Instead of living in fear for them, I have learned to have faith that they will return home safely the next day. To cope with the anxiety, I have found it helpful to find ways to help my parents in any way possible whether it's cleaning around the house or grocery shopping. By doing so, it gives me the relief of knowing that I have done something to give back to my parents.
I am proud to have such tenacious parents that are brave enough to risk their lives for people who don’t recognize the amount of hard work the Chicago police have to do. The Chicago police are some of the most hardworking officers in the world due to the petrifying violence our city is facing. The courage and strength my parents possess taught me not to be afraid anymore, but to be proud and brave. I am no longer discouraged for I am the daughter of the Chicago police.
Blue Lives Matter, too.
