Are your littles asking questions about all of the recent violence in our country and our world?
My guess – probably not. Are you asking questions about all of the recent violence in our country and our world? Are you talking about it with co-workers, neighbors, and friends? Are you finding yourself knee deep in arguments online, whether you actually post your comments or just think them? My guess – probably.
What can be done? What if the answer involved raising the next generation to accept others as they are and not as we would have them be? Would you do it? Yes? Then keep reading!
We can teach our children tolerance, acceptance and love, instead of bigotry, prejudice and hate. As humans, we are far more alike than we are different and answering our own questions as well as those of our growing littles with an open mind and an open heart could create peace and understanding for generations to come. Better yet, we can lead by example in all of our interactions, showing love and acceptance where we may least feel it. Be kind to those different than we are, knowing that just because we are different doesn’t mean we are wrong.
Here’s a little help in that direction – when your littles ask awkward questions, try to guide them and yourself to peaceful answers and loving solutions:
*Why is his skin so dark/light? His skin is dark/light for the same reasons that anyone’s skin is the color it is – science.
*Is his mommy a daddy? His mommy is a parent, just like all mommies and daddies are called “parents.”
*Why does she have two mommies and no daddy? Every family is different, but no matter what the most important part of any family is love.
*Why would a mommy and a mommy want to have a baby? Anyone who wants to start a family starts with having children.
*Why does he have so many brothers and sisters? Every family is different and so very lucky for each new member that is added.
*Can I have two daddies? You have what you have. No one way is right, but what we have is wonderful just different than what others might have.
* Why does he dress that way? Sometimes people dress a certain way to follow rules according to where they live or what they believe.
*How come he looks so different from everyone else? People look differently from one another but we all need the same things – food, water, clean air, a place to live and people to love us.
*How can I be just like her? You can’t be just like her, but you are wonderful just the way you are. We are all different, and we are all alike too.
*If you have two daddies, who makes dinner? Someone who loves you makes dinner, of course.
*If he is just little, why is he so big? Every BODY is different. Some people grow to be bigger or smaller than other people.
*Why do his words sound so funny? We all sound a little funny to people who talk differently than we do. It doesn’t make us wrong or right, it just makes us different.
*What kind of family is the right kind of family? Every kind of family is the right kind of family! There is no one right way to be a family and there are zero ways to be a “wrong” kaind of family.
All of these questions and more can be answered with the simple fact that we are all far more alike than different and through our differences, even if we don’t love or even like someone, we can be nice, no matter what! Doesn’t every child deserve that lesson?
Teaching that lesson is simple when we read WE ARE JUST ALIKE with our little ones – bringing peace and understanding while supporting the Stop Abuse Campaign!
Laura Fogarty
Editor, Ask Lala
Laura Fogarty writes “Ask Lala” for the Stop Abuse Campaign. She is a mother, an advocate and the author of two children’s abuse prevention books: I’M THE BOSS OF ME! and WE ARE JUST ALIKE!