“Have courage and be kind.”
Since I saw the Disney live-action Cinderella movie, I have wanted to raise my kids with that mantra. I grew up in the bubble of East Idaho, an area that tends to ignore a lot of the problems that are in our world. We seem to live in ignorant bliss that allows injustices to continue. As mothers, we cannot turn our heads to other mothers’ struggles. Moms, we need to educate ourselves and our children about the struggles others face.
What is White Privilege?
For many years, I didn’t believe in white privilege. I thought because I had to work just as hard as everyone else, I didn’t have any privilege. I have since discovered some questions to help me understand white privilege:
Does nude underwear match your skin tone fairly well?
Do you ever feel scared for your life going out for a walk or run?
Do you ever get pulled over for the color of your skin?
Do your kids ever get called racial slurs?
Did anyone ever look down on you simply for the color or your skin?
Do you ever fear for your children’s lives when around police officers?
If you answered any of these questions with a “no”, you know privilege.
“Just because it’s what is done, does not mean it’s what should be done.”
Let’s open the conversation up with our children. Let’s raise them to have the courage to stop the bullying. Let’s teach them that they do have privileges others do not. Let’s teach them to use that privilege to help those around them. Let’s teach them everyone is equal and everyone should be treated with kindness and respect. Let’s teach them that being mean does not make you cool. Teach them to stand up to the bullies and stand their ground.
If they do bully and you find out, do not brush it away. Sit down with them and have an honest conversation. When I was in elementary school, I told my best friend she wasn’t going to heaven because she wasn’t a Christian. My parents made me apologize to her and her parents. I learned a valuable lesson that day and I did my best never to bully again.
Let’s finish this Race.
We have made great strides in our world but we still have a long way to go. Mothers, I am asking you to stand together. I am asking all mothers of every color to come together as a tribe and raise our kids to have courage and be kind.
