THINGS WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN

BY TALISA RICHARDS

 

Like many of you, we've been feeling very emotional these last couple of weeks. Our hearts are heavy with all the hurt and pain we've been witnessing. In a world filled with judgement, it is hard sometimes to find the words, the right words, to fully express how we're feeling in times like these. we know we need to trust the goodness inside ourselves and find my truth, and we would much rather speak our truth than to not speak at all.

As mummys of the KTB team, there are natural instincts to protect our children from anything that might make them feel sad or unsafe. The pain and suffering inflicted by racism is not a thing of the past and we bare the responsibility to speak with our kids honestly and often about it, even when the truth is uncomfortable. We have to make sure they understand what it means to have white privilege and to take the time to learn and discuss Black History, beyond just one short month out of the year. 

We encourage other mothers to join us  in using this as a learning lesson for our children, to allow our children to feel comfortable enough to come talk to us about anything. Allow conversation without judgement, and learn from our children too. We don’t know it all. Our children sometimes ask questions that we may not know the answers to, so we explore them together. we’ve felt like we’ve always been on the right side of this, but we have a lot to learn and want to educate myself even more, so that we can be a better mummys, a better aunties to our nieces and nephews, a better friend, and a better person. 

We should all want to do better and be better. The best way to teach respect, love, and kindness is by modeling it. The best way to teach the importance of using your voice and standing up for what is right and what you believe in is by modeling it. We  have always felt the importance of allowing our kids to be who they are, to give them the tools they need, structure and security as parents, but to not mold them into any ideal. There is so much we learn from them every day, so much light and perspective they bring to situations, so we encourage you to be open to that as well.

In order for change to be lasting and not just about this moment, we need to continue the conversation beyond today, this week, this month. God help us.

Start the conversation now and read these books with your children: 

An ABC of Equality by Chana Ginelle Ewing

Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena

Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun: Having the Courage to Be Who You Are by Maria Dismondy

This Is How We Do It: One Day in the Lives of Seven Kids from Around the World by Matt Lamothe

The Skin You Live In by Michael Tyler

I Like Myself by Karen Beaumont

ABC What Can She Be?: Girls Can Be Anything They Want to Be, from A to Z by Jessie Ford and Sugar Snap Studio

When God Made You by Matthew Paul Turner

Grace for President by Kelly Dipucchio

We’re Different, We’re the Same (Sesame Street) by Bobbi Kates

One Love adapted by Cedella Marley

Dreams of Freedom by Amnesty International

I Am Enough by Grace Byers

Parker Looks Up: An Extraordinary Moment by Parker Curry and Jessica Curry

Little Feminist Board Book Set by Mudpuppy

Counting with-Contando Con Friday by Patty Rodriguez

Chocolate Me! by Taye Diggs

Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop: The Sanitation Strike of 1968 by Alice Faye Duncan

The Day You Begin by Jaqueline Woodson

All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold

Watch with your children: 

On Saturday, June 6, I watched with my daughter via FaceTime (I'm a birth mum) CNN and ‘Sesame Street’ ,  hosted a special addressing racism, which she learned a lot from.