How would you handle interference by the media if this were your family. What could Mike and Jamie have done differently to help the kids?

Henry learns about the shooting via text messages, YouTube, and other forms of social media. How would you handle interference by the media if this were your family. What could Mike and Jamie have done differently to help the kids, especially Henry, cope with the situation?

Short of sticking their heads into the sand...there was no way to avoid social media...not in this day & age. I think with Henry being the oldest child, they should have explained the situation to him so he could be prepared for anyone saying anything to him. Some parents tell their kids too much and others not enough.

I hope I never have to find out, but as bigred66 said, talking to Henry before he saw the news on social media and texts would have helped. Throughout this novel, communication is an issue among the characters. In this day and age the media is omnipresent and has the unfortunate tendency to sensationalize. For all the children, it might have helped if the parents and been more open and honest, and more reassuring that the media don't always get it right.

I suspect these situations come up so unexpectedly, it's hard to get ahead of the curve with the 24 hour media coverage today. You don't have the time to plan out how to tell your family because many times the media does that for you. It did make me wonder if police departments have made any effort to have a team in place that assists police families in these situations. It would seem it should be something they would do to help their officers in these situations.

This is a difficult question. The parents should explain the situation to the children and preparing the children for hearing misinformation and sensationalism. The press do not have to play by the rules. People will be mean. Damage control . I personally would not speak to the press. Anything you may say could be misconstrued.

It is very difficult to deal with the media, which often encourages unrest and negativity. In today's world, we hear about things so much more quickly than in previous times. Consequently, it takes quick action to stay ahead of things. It would have been much better for all the children, especially Henry, if Mike and Jamie had been able to communicate more effectively. Hearing the story accurately before the media put its own slant on it, would have helped the children to understand the situation better and would have prepared the older ones to deal with comments/questions they would have to deal with from their friends.

I think that Mike and Jamie wanted to protect the kids but they probably should have been honest with them - especially with Henry. Once they saw the excessive news coverage, they should have known that he would find out and they should have prepared him for the news.

The children have to be informed of what is going on and given as much facts as is age appropriate. There is just no way in our techno savvy world that they will not become aware of it on their own.

Again communication would have helped this family. I would have stayed away from the press and keepy children away. Mike and Jamue could have explained to their kids what they seeing and going. This books points up how powerful our social media is, sometimes in a good way but not in this book.

Informing the children as would be appropriate for their age would be the way to go. Explaining what happened and how the family should handle the media would have helped.