And now there is Nice.

The truck attack in Nice, France, in which at least 84 people were killed and many were injured, is yet another instance of violence and brutality in the world that parents must grapple with — as they feed, bathe, teach their children and otherwise go about the business of parenting.

[lz_jwplayer video= “sqB5ZmO7″ ads=”true”]

No matter what images or news stories are shown on television or social media — our kids still need us and every parent’s heart goes out to their littlest ones first.

Many parents must dig deep as terror-driven acts become more prevalent. A mother of two boys who studied French at her Midwestern college still recalls when the first plane plowed into New York City’s World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Though she was nowhere near the Big Apple at the time, she stood in the student union beside other students and watched the TV, transfixed and horrified.

It took her weeks to process what happened, she said. “The scope of the tragedy haunted me, confused me, and shook to the core my notions of the world,” this mom, 36, told LifeZette. “I was 21, not quite an adult — but not a child either.”

When the terror attacks in Paris happened in November 2015, she said it all felt eerily familiar — and by then she had two boys, 7 and 5. She said her “heart shattered. I couldn’t bear to watch the scenes of destruction on the TV news.”

It’s not that she was brushing tragedy under the rug — it’s that her thoughts were a tumble. “It’s senseless, painful, inhumane, and terrifying, no matter which city is involved. And if I was still sorting through all this, how was I supposed to talk to my children about Paris?”

And now — after Bangladesh, Orlando, Paris, so many other places — there is Nice.

Related: Terror Strikes France, Again

Who do you think would win the Presidency?

By completing the poll, you agree to receive emails from LifeZette, occasional offers from our partners and that you've read and agree to our privacy policy and legal statement.

The latest reports say that after a truck barreled through a busy street on Bastille Day, as scores of French people and families were celebrating the holiday, at least 73 are dead and perhaps 100 or more are injured. The driver of the truck exchanged gunfire with police and ultimately was killed — but the carnage he left is just now beginning to be processed.

Two Americans — a father and son from Texas — were among those killed.

So what do parents tell their kids?

For the mother mentioned above, the questions go like this: “We barely made it through the death of Charlotte the spider. How can I possibly explain mass murder in the name of dogmatic fanaticism to my sweet boys who are still learning about the world?”

“As always, your parents and your country will care for you and defend you until you’re able to do that for yourself. For now, just be a kid,” said one dad.

Most experts and psychologists say it’s likely far too soon to engage young children in any such discussions. Also, there is the very strong parental instinct to protect our young kids from knowing about brutality and violence.

But both children and adults alike benefit a great deal from being heard, say the experts. So if older children are up for it and are asking about it, provide them with some information (but not every tragic detail). Each parent knows his or her child best, so a child’s age, personality, temperament, and more must be considered for any of these actions.

You can educate them on the variety of factors that led to this. Perhaps add in some insight about how conflict in the world is (sadly) not new, and that some very smart and experienced people are working very hard to solve the issues. You’re not excusing terrorism — you’re offering perspective, advise the experts. Depending on where children are developmentally, it is easy for them to be afraid that what happened to someone else is going to happen to them.

Related: Imperfect Parents Can Do Great Things

Overall, your goal with this sort of conversation is to check in and stay connected with your child, provide comfort if he or she is worried, and share information if your young one is confused. Regardless of how your child responds, be sure to limit the exposure to the unending news coverage (and for that matter, your own). Sure, stay informed. But there is nothing to be gained by bombarding our families with every detail.

Most of all, children (of all ages) need to know you are there for them, and are providing and will provide steady guidance, wisdom, and unending love.

“It’s not for you to worry about. There’s some bad people in the world,” said a father of four boys in Westchester County, New York. “And as always, your parents — and your country — will care for you and defend you until you’re able to do those things for yourself. For now, just be a kid.”