Erica Maddux, a mother of three, says that since Friday’s tragic shooting at a Connecticut elementary school that left 26 dead, including 20 students, sending her youngest off to school has been difficult. “It’s been hard. Yesterday and today were hard,” Maddux said Tuesday. “Scotten and Gilmore (schools) sent out an automated message from the principal, letting everyone know they were doing the best they can to protect (students).” Maddux said preparations can only go so far, considering tragedies can happen anywhere, also alluding to a mall shooting in Portland in November. “There are so many fears now,” Maddux said. …