Yes, I used to get upset anytime I heard about a disaster. But now that I’ve become a parent I find listening to any one’s loss almost unbearable. I’ll admit, sometimes I even find it hard to watch an episode of CSI when a child is in danger.

The recent earthquake in Haiti is the largest natural disaster to occur since I’ve become a mother. I’ve sat glued to my television set in horror as reports of children being trapped under rubble, missing family members and collapsing prisons take hold of my emotions.

I tell myself not to sweat the small stuff, then find myself doing just that. I’m more on edge. I snap at the littlest thing my husband does (or doesn’t) do. My children (God bless them) drive me crazy.

I finally realized it’s my feeling of hopelessness amongst all of this suffering that is putting me on edge. Although there is little I can do, I can donate money. As I clicked the send button to Red Cross, my tears finally started to come. Although a donation is very little in light of such an horrendous event, the action of doing something enabled me to move beyond the annoyance of inactivity and allowed me to feel. To feel the love I have for my family and to acknowledge at least a little of the hurt that is currently going on in Haiti.

A donation is not much but if everyone does something small it can at least help get care, food and water to the hundreds of thousands that are currently suffering.