My week started with the typical crazy that is indicative of our busy lives. School lunches had to be made, diapers changed, homework reviewed, bits and pieces of laundry put away or washed. It was sizing up to be an average week here at home.
But then I was hit with something that I was not prepared for and that I never thought that I would have to confront this issue so early in my older daughter’s life.
My daughter told me a story about some kids in school and how a certain group of kids would not let another child play with them because she was black.
Yes, you did read that correctly.
I had no freaking clue on how to handle this one. It’s not like I could grab a book lookup “Kids making comments about color” and find a solution.
So I asked “How did that make you feel Katherine?” She replied that it was not very nice and that she went to tell the teacher what she saw. Relieved that she could see how the child was hurt and that she did tell someone, I needed to make sure she knew why it was wrong.
“Katherine why did that bother you” I asked? She looks me in the eye and says “Daddy, you and mommy never talk about the color of someone’s skin. We can’t be mean just because people have different skin than mine. Right Daddy?” All I could do was give her a hug say yes and that she did the right thing.
If only it were that simple?
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Good job Mom & Dad! That’s a response to be proud of. 🙂
Wow! i’m so touched how you brought up your child. I just wish all parents would act the same way, which brings us to HR and EEO which we wish we had much more of in our region of Middle East and which should be based more on skills instead of skin color, religion, or who you know
Again was very impressed to read this ! Good job
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