To Sleep in Peace – or Not?

By Tuula Pere

March 18^th, 2020

Illustration by Georgia Stylou

To Sleep in Peace – or Not?

I warn you; this text is going to involve a lot of personal nostalgia combined with the pain of today’s world.

The need to write arose as I saw the photo reportage “Where the children sleep” in Aftonbladet. Magnus Wennman, a renowned photographer, took the photos. With names, ages, places, and short descriptions, these children in refugee camps come very close to us. Looking at the pictures, we can sense the vulnerability of every individual.

Although the children are in focus, I cannot help thinking about their mothers, too. Mothers who have given birth to these innocent new lives and wished them all the happiness in the world. What has happened? Families find themselves without proper shelter against the horrors of war. Who protects the children now? Who has the power and the means?

I’m already an old mother, a grandmother, too. This essential task in my life has lasted some 33 years as my three children have a wide age range.

Almost every night, I’ve been fortunate to be there when they have gone to sleep. I’ve wished goodnight to my children at home, told or read them a bedtime story, and finished with a prayer and a warm hug. I just counted; this has happened some 12 000 times!

I don’t know how much my children remember about our evenings and good nights as the years pass by, but at least I remember. I have seen them grow from babies to adults. I remember our discussions about big and small things in life. They have felt safe and loved – probably the best thing they have got from their childhood home.

Looking at the photos by Magnus Wennman touches deeply. So many mixed feelings are involved. Anger to those who misuse their power and don’t care about human suffering. Solidarity to all the parents who love their children and struggle to safeguard them. Love for children wherever they are—a need to hug everyone.

My mission is to spread the word by writing children’s books – also about the most challenging subjects – like war and peace. By growing empathy for other people, we can try to influence this circle of hate. We must learn to respect each other regardless of any boundaries – on maps or in our minds.

This work has to take place everywhere, and it needs all of us!

P.S.

To accompany this text, I will add an illustration by Georgia Stylou from one of my War&Peace theme stories, “Raspberry Red.” It is a story about a little girl who has to flee from the home village as the war breaks out. After times of uncertainty, her family is finally able to return and build up their life again.

I’m happy to know that “Raspberry Red” and two other stories of mine are reaching the children in Arabic versions by the Muslim Council of Elders / Al Hokama Publishing (UAE), who first launched this series at a refugee camp in Jordania.