Encouraging Words

It's amazing when my 5-year-old comes home, talking about the history behind MLK day.

When I was in Kindergarten, we learned our colors, numbers, and maybe a few words.

My son comes home teaching me about rhombuses, arctic animals and their habitats, and about politics.

Today, he came home and gave me a history lesson. He said Martin Luther King was a very good man who delivered a speech that he was killed for.

I'm sure the teachers tried to give these kids the whole picture of 'I have a dream,' yet this is the part that stuck with my child - 'he gave a speech that he died for...'

I tried to impart some wisdom at that moment. Wisdom like that of MLK and what he tried to stress on that day he died.

That we are all created equal even though some people judge others because of their background, race, or religion. That we all should work as a human race to improve our society with peace and respect. That we should NOT judge others based on their color, creed, or faith - but treat others with kindness and strive for equality.

My kid is only five, so some of it may not have stuck. Parts of it may have been too big for him to grasp and that's okay.

I didn't want to burden him with too much as he takes on too much on his own. He's such a mature and wise little boy, but I felt at that moment, I needed to give him encouraging words.

After our talk, the rest of our convo looked like this:

"You know. They caught the guy who killed him, Mommy."

"Yes, honey. The man who shot MLK was caught and put in jail."

"That must have been some speech..."

"Yes, it was."

Comments

Anonymous said…
Aw!! He's only FIVE and get got that much out of the lesson on MLK? Thats amazing!

BTW: I promise to read your book THIS WEEK!
terri said…
Your son is wise beyond his years!
Annette Piper said…
Children soak up much more than we give them credit for!
Rebecca said…
Aw, I would have teared up. Michael thought that his prek teacher was visiting Martin Luther King Jr for his birthday and that's why they didn't have school...maybe so much won't get lost in translation next year!
I am Harriet said…
What a neat post!
Thanks
Leon1234 said…
Thank you for sharing. Great post!
I remember my volunteering in my daugther's kindergarten class on MLK Day. It was great to see all the kids talk about how everyone is the same no matter their skin color. Then they decorated cookies, with blue & green frosting (the earth) and put all sorts of varieties of Teddy Grahams on them (people with all different skin colors)...everyone sharing the world together. I know I was never taught anything close to this kind of tolerance in school, so I'm glad that my daugther is learning it now!

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