" Most of us do n’t need this . We ’re so sorry . "
monition : This post contains brief honorable mention of rape and slaying .
As if things at home weren’t turbulent enough, President Donald Trump has been stoking tensions with dozens of foreign countries since his inauguration. There’s the escalating globaltrade war, talk oftaking overGreenland, and a slew oftariffsthat were announced, then paused.
Amid the casualties is the United States' relationship with Canada, our neighbors to the north and one of our closest allies for over a century. Trump has expressed interest in making the entire country the 51st USstateand previously imposed a 25%tariffon goods imported from Canada.
Recently, a Canadian woman (u/hopelesslyanxious) took to the motherhood forumr/Mommitto express her fear about the increasingly tense relations between her country and the US. Shewrote, “I’m terrified of my country being invaded and my children being exposed to war. I’m Canadian.”
Hundreds of other moms — American and Canadian alike — flooded the thread with their own fears or words of comfort, holding community during these bleak times. Here’s what some of them said:
1.“I feel the same exact way. I think this is just proof that you’re an incredible mom because you put your child’s/children’s future at the forefront of your mind. I think what calms me is that I remember every headline is trying to evoke emotion out of me and that zooming out provides better perspective. I hope you and I are raising future friends who can collaborate toward a more peaceful world! Your children are lucky to have you!”
2.“Hello from a deep red state. Some here are lost to delusion; most are asleep. But even here in the depths of conservative hell, I have a strong community of Americans around me who are sounding the alarms and fighting and resisting in every way we can — for ourselves, for our sleepers, and for our allies. And that’s here in hell! It has to be an even bigger resistance in other states. You are not alone. Any order to move the US military against Canada would be met with the fiercest opposition from the inside.”
— greenishbluishgrey
3.“Most of us don’t want this. We’re so sorry.”
— Kitchen_Platypus_402
4.“I’m on a lot of subs here on Reddit, and all I read is people disgusted with this administration. On the stocks subreddit, people are angry about what he’s doing to the stock market and all of his ridiculous executive orders. There were a few supporters of the administration who were quickly quieted because they had no facts to back up their arguments. It brings me some comfort to read that moms, young people, veterans, investors, etc., are disgusted by what’s going on.”
5.“Also Canadian. It’s a bizarro world right now. Turn off the doom bukake — like, peep enough to keep apprised, but don’t let it bury you in despair, and don’t capitulate in advance. Nobody knows how this will turn out, no matter how convincing they sound. We’re grieving anticipatorily. I don’t want anyone to have to be exposed to atrocity.”
" I ’m a nanny , have re - upped my emergency first aid , and am advocating through every channel possible . you could look for the things within your locus of ascendence and start there . Eat and log Z’s . revel time with your family — chip at it out , and let yourself finger joy . Look for your common support net . And be genial to yourself , this shit is terrifying . "
— Mixtrix_of_delicioux
6.“I’m American, and I’m so sorry. I didn’t vote for this. I live around a lot of people that did. They all think he’s just having a nice big laugh. I know plenty of people who voted for Trump (none of my close friends, but I still know plenty), but I don’t know anyone who would put up arms against Canadians. I will personally take my kids to their grandparents' house in another state and go to the White House to riot (I live an hour and a few minutes from DC in the state of Maryland) if this happens or even remotely seems like it will happen.”
— WillowCat89
7.“As a US citizen, I’m terrified. I’m disgusted by the orange man and his followers. I wish there was more we could do to stop this than complain to other rich people in power that don’t wanna hear us.”
8.“American mom here… those of us who didn’t vote for the orange felon are equally terrified. I have an almost 5-year-old daughter, and I’m 10 weeks pregnant. My husband and I have thought of leaving, but financially, it just isn’t going to be possible. We are just preparing in all the ways we can to endure whatever the hell is coming.”
— avocadoqueen _
9.“I’m so sorry, so many tried to prevent this maniac from taking over.”
— swordbutts
" But so many did n’t … And that ’s the terrific part . I do n’t call up Dumpy mentioning any desire to make Canada the ' 51st ' United States Department of State . I feel like this imbecile is ride on ego boosts . ' I ’m gon na be da first Pwesident to make basal changes . It ’s gon na gooooood . ' I ’m so angry and disgusted . I experience helpless and full of ignominy . "
— Downtherabbithole14
10.“Any other European moms out there who have been living in this fear for years? Russia has invaded a nearby country and literally committed sadistic war crimes on people, even children.”
11.“American mom here. I’m also so terrified. And I’m so sorry that Canada is getting roped into our mess. I used to go to Canada all the time as a child, and I love it. There are good people here, too, but our government is truly evil. I wish I knew what I could do in my power to stop it beyond calling and signing petitions, making sure my purchases align politically, etc.”
— Ms - Janet - Snakehole
12.“I’m so sorry. I’m an Arab American, and I just had those fears today — I’m terrified of being rounded up for our race somehow. Solidarity, and I wish for peace and protection of our children always.”
— Littleglimmer1
13.“Fellow Canadian… I’m currently pregnant, and I’ve never watched the news closer. I definitely wasn’t expecting this when we decided on a third…”
14.“I would have said there was no way this would happen. But I had been sitting in Donetsk thinking that this would never happen… so I do not know. It is good to be cautious. It is difficult to imagine the US military obeying such, but then, it is always difficult to imagine, and it happens throughout history, so who knows anymore.”
— Kseniya_ns
15.“Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) member and mom of soon-to-be two here, I know it’s scary. If it helps, I work alongside some amazing people, and although the CAF has its challenges, I feel we would never lose our sovereignty. Canada is famous for being insanely hard to defeat and notoriously crafty in our small numbers. The Germans called us ‘black devils’ when we created the first special service force in WWII.”
16.“Yeah, I’m feeling numb mostly. It’s hard to keep up. Remember that a federal election is going to be called soon. Make sure you do everything to get someone elected who will actually stand up to Trump. You can do phone banking or flyering for your local MP candidate; it’s very easy, and you can do as much or as little as you have time for.”
— yes_please _
17.“Hi there, Canadian mom here. I’m in the military. I can understand your concern for the future of your children. I want to assure you that your fears are valid, but they are based on too much exposure to the news and online. Please, for the sake of your sanity, please get offline and go outside for a bit or do something you love.”
" We are extremely lucky to be live in a first - humans country , one that is not provoke by warfare like other country are . Your youngster will not be exposed to bomb destroying their rest home or schools . They will be expose to high prices on groceries , gas , and products . perhaps different brands , as American businesses no longer do business with us . negotiate border . That form of thing . The warfare will be an economic one , not one of violent force out . "
— doordonot19
18.“And even if Trump never acts on this HORRIBLE suggestion to annex Canada, how dare he cause this fear and disunity between our countries? What a monster.”
19.“Same here. I left Ukraine to escape war (with a child). Now, it appears I’ll be involved in another war. This time, I’ll have no choice but to fight.”
— shapeitguy
20.“I’m American, and so sorry you’re having to even think about this! My anxiety has been through the roof since this started, and every day is another ‘WTF is real life’ moment. What I’ve been trying to tell myself is to soak up my current reality in a positive way. Today, things are fine. If everything were to go sideways tomorrow, I’d want to know I cherished every minute of the calm and wasn’t stressed before things happened.”
" I am judge to lowkey machinate with extra food for thought , savings , etc . , but there are too many ' what - if ' rabbit holes I can go down , and for right on now , it is idiotic and weird , but OK . Hopefully , none of it encounter , and we make it through the next four long time all in one piece . "
— Fluffy - Lingonberry89
21.“Hi! I am an American, and I’ve been very politically anxious and doing a lot of research to try to understand everything. This is what I’ve found:”
" warfare can only bedeclaredby Congress . As many terror as Trump makes , he does not have the power to establish the US into warfare . Ever since WWII , military member have been trail to reject illegitimate order . Economic craft war are not a cause for military action , and any gild calling for military action over trade wars would be unlawful and rejected . Canada being a part of NATO is a protective force as well because the US attacking Canada would push all of NATO to protect Canada . Trump is a big talker , but the US does not want that bullet … "
“Now for what politicians really care about: money (I wish it was human lives, but it is what it is). Wars are very costly, and the US is alreadyhemorrhagingmoney from two other foreign conflicts. Additionally, Trump’s proposed financial plan accounts for taxcutsfor the billionaires and greatly increasing the national debt. Simply put, the US will be too broke to go to war with Canada, especially when it has other aggressive adversaries will aggressive militaries.”
“…I just had a little boy this past year. As an American, I am terrified of the future. I am scared for my family, my neighbors, and all of the destruction happening in the US, but I also know there are still good people in my country who dissent and have a vision of fixing this. Hopelessness is what the government wants of me, and I refuse to comply with that hopelessness. How can I be pessimistic about the future when I love my son? My pessimism is a barrier to carving out a path in the world for him.”
" I also remember that fear - mongering , more than anything , is how the US got here in the first office . Fox News fear hawk an total population over progress , and it worked . I refuse to let fear control me and cloud my judgement , so while I uphold my fearfulness , I am not willing to let it into the number one wood ’s seat .
Also , I love Canada . You are unbelievable neighbor . I pray for quick political turnover and for our government to work extremely severely in the hereafter to retrieve Canadian trust and restore our prescribed relationship . "
— SweetPeasAndCarrots
22.And finally, the original poster’s response: “Wow, thank you for such a thoughtful and well-informed response. It has given me hope. I seriously need to shut out the news and focus on my babies right now. It’s just so hard. "
— hopelesslyanxious
Note : Submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity .
