“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
John 13: 34-35
As if 2020 hasn’t been rough enough, we are now deep in a racial crisis in our country.
Racial injustices clearly have been thick in our country for centuries, but for our generation, our tolerance has been overly tested and we’ve reached our limit. For the past week, we have watched protests and the effects of police brutality and racial tensions within our country.
Watching the news I can’t help but think of what the future holds for Raelynn and any future babies Shawn and I may have. I can’t help but think of my nephews. I can’t help but think of my husband. I can’t help but think of my brothers. I can’t help but think of my cousins. I can’t help but think of my friends and all the other people in our community.
While I recognize that I can’t necessarily change the world, I can pray for our world and do my part in helping Raelynn understand that the world’s perception of her based off the color of her skin does not define her or limit her from achieving all that she’s meant to reach.
I also want to be sure to teach her tolerance for all people. I want her to know that hate should never be met with more hate and that our many shades is what makes us not only unique but beautiful as well.
This is obviously not the easiest conversation to have with a 2-year-old with a 1-second attention span so I’ve had to get creative to drive the point home.
[Insert your name] is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
1.Affirming Her
I probably tell Raelynn she’s beautiful 100 times a day. I consciously do this, because I’m a firm believer in being a product of our environment and the effects of speaking life into her.
“A soothing tongue [speaking words that build up and encourage] is a tree of life, But a perversive tongue[speaking words that overwhelm and depress] crushes the spirit”
Proverbs 15:4 (AMP)
Affirming our children is essential. It’s our jobs as parents to teach them not only how to talk to others but how to also talk about themselves. Our kid’s perceptions of themselves and the world starts at home. In a world that isn’t always tolerant of differences, it’s important to me that my little one knows that her differences is how God made her and that He made her with a beautiful purpose.
2. Books
Books are hands down the easiest way to teach toddlers. There’s a special place in my heart for children’s authors because there are so many books out there geared towards children and perfectly broken down to give them just as much knowledge if not more knowledge than we have ourselves as parents. Most of these books I read to her constantly because they promote equality, they reassure her that she can do anything she puts her mind to and they reaffirm her of her strengths in a world that may not always see her for what she really is. Some of these books are also currently sitting in our amazon cart but they’ve been recommended to us by people I love and trust.
I AM…(Positive Affirmations for Brown Girls) x Ayesha Rodriguez AND (for Brown Boys)
Dream Big, Little One x Vashti Harrison
Think Big, Little One x Vashti Harrison
I’m A Pretty Little Black Girl x Betty Bynum
Don’t Touch My Hair x Sharee Miller — We actually have this digitally on Apple Books
Currently in our amazon cart….
Ada Twist, Scientist x Andrea Beaty
An ABC of Equality x Chana Ginelle Ewing
3. Representation matters!
Guys, representation matters. It makes a world a difference for us to know we can safely walk into rooms and sit at tables comfortably because there are people like us already there. African-Americans are teachers, researchers, doctors, lawyers, scientists, nurses, neuroscientists, engineers and so much more. We deserve to sit at every table and we have the capability to succeed and dominate anywhere we go. This may seem like such a simple statement to understand but it’s not always comprehended by our little ones when their beautiful princesses are only white, or their favorite stations only feature characters of one color.
I may not be able to control the companies that target our little ones, but I can control what comes in my house. We consciously, buy Raelynn dolls of colors and purposely watch shows like Sesame Street that features songs on diversity.
Most importantly, we never stop chasing our own dreams because we want her to know the importance of never giving up and following your heart.
Here are some of our favorite Sesame Street songs on diversity. Raelynn has literally been listening to all these songs (and more) since she was a baby. We are absolutely obsessed with them!
My prayer is that in a world currently filled with so much darkness that as parents we can be a light for our babies. We may not be able to control the world, but we can control our mindset and the principles we stand on.
We will forever believe that our hope stands in Christ and Christ alone, not this ever-changing world.
XO
Michelle
Love this representation does matter- as positive self esteem, self identity and self love is important.