Minnesota has faced significant challenges in recent years, with heightened immigration enforcement efforts bringing uncertainty to many communities. Against this backdrop, one Minnesota mom is opening up about her emotional reaction after overhearing a heartbreaking conversation between children at a local park.
Betsy (@betsybissonette) shared a TikTok video captioned, “the kids are not alright” after a conversation she heard in a park. As she says, her Minneapolis neighborhood has been “traumatized over and over” and kids can’t even “play at the playground” without discussing it. While at the playground with her kids, she heard some sixth graders talking and listened in on their conversation. As a result, she was left feeling concerned and heartbroken.
One of the sixth graders asked the other, “Hey, where do you go to school?” They answered that they attend Annunciation Catholic School. She then went on to say it’s the school “where there’s the school shooting.” Furthermore, she told the other children, “We don’t really talk about it. I’m sorry for being a downer.” But the heartbreak didn’t end there. Betsy said another child went on to tell the group, “I understand scary. ICE took my dad away.”
Betsy said, upon hearing this conversation, she was crying at the park trying to focus on playing with her three-year-old. She says, “The trauma that both of these children are having is unbelievable. We aren’t supposed to have this trauma.” As Betsy explains, children in grade school are supposed to be enjoying themselves. They’re supposed to have conversations about “their favorite toys” and “their favorite show.” She says they aren’t supposed to be worried about “masked men taking their fathers away and deporting them.”
Betsy cries as she says she wishes she could give these children a hug. Instead, she approached them and told them she would play the monster in the game they were creating with one another. She said she “tried to give those kids a moment of joy.”
Others shared that they’ve witnessed the struggles just as Betsy has. One shared, “As a child therapist, the kids are not alright. Thanks for being there for the kids for a moment.” Another commenter stated, “This isn’t how it’s supposed to be.” One commenter chimed in with, “Normalize crying around kids. This is a serious issue, and that shows them we are concerned. Offer a hug or listening ears when applicable.”
This video gained attention not just from those living in Minnesota but those viewing the state’s struggles from the outside-in. Many commenters shared their thoughts on the situation, with several expressing support for Betsy and others offering words of solidarity. The post quickly drew a strong sense of community, with people reflecting on resilience and coming together during difficult times in Minnesota.
For Minnesota and many other states, times have been tough in early 2026. As the year continues, there are shared hopes that things will get better – for the children and families living there alike.
