Life didn't prepare me for conversations like this 🙈 My youngest came to me before bed, clearly tro…

Life didn't prepare me for conversations like this 🙈 My youngest came to me before bed, clearly troubled and worried, and quietly asked, 'Mom, what can I do to avoid going to the army?' I was stunned. We started talking, and it turns out the boys in his class were discussing how they'd go straight to the army after school to shoot the enemy. 'I don't want to shoot people, and I don't want to be shot at either,' he told me. Apparently, he said something similar to them, and they convinced him that everyone has to go and he can't avoid it. Now he's been walking around so upset. I had to explain that mandatory service is just training, and nobody shoots anyone there; it's an introduction to service. Those who want to can stay and learn more, but he won't be forced. He can study whatever he wants and be much more useful in his chosen field. He seemed to calm down, but I'm still fuming inside. It's the 21st century, and kids are scared of war again, while some aren't scared but actually crave it – I don't know which is worse. I feel this helpless anger about the situation. Plus, now I'm worried they'll start teasing him for what he said. How can all of this be so messed up...