So, yesterday was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
A couple of years ago, I picked up a children's book on MLK and saved it back for someday when Anna was ready. Discussing the civil rights movement with a 4-year-old is not something to enter into lightly. But, I decided to throw caution to the wind, so we picked up the book, "Martin's Big Words" at bedtime. It's wonderfully written, focusing on the simple but beautiful concepts of equality, respect, peace and love (and using your words - how perfect). What I didn't expect was the fabulous segue into the next book on the evening reading list (I wish I could take credit for having planned this): Fancy Nancy. Nancy's best friend, Bree, is black. We talked about the challenges their friendship would have faced back in 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond, and that at points in time they wouldn't have even attended the same school. They couldn't sit together at the movies. What a foreign concept, let me tell you! Mind you, I have realistic expectations - she cannot truly comprehend this kind of world - I know I can't (and I recognize we still have much more work ahead). But it's also a great conversation starter on what a blessing it is to be surrounded by people different than ourselves - how it makes our life richer, and how we should respect people who look, think and believe differently than us.
I have a dream...that my daughter will grow up to be an amazing adult who accepts people for who they are and understands the world is so much more than what she finds in her own backyard.
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