When my husband and I became parents 30 plus years ago, we had this well-meaning idea—we thought we could raise our kids to be “color blind.” Looking back, I realize how naive that was. It’s impossible—and irresponsible—not to educate our children about something so significant as race in our history and still deeply relevant in society today. So I am sharing a true story which came to mind related to current events.
One day, I picked up my older son from kindergarten, and he couldn’t wait to talk. He said something like, “Mom, did you know that people with brown skin were called blacks and used to be slaves? And that people with white skin thought that people with brown skin weren’t smart or good?”
I told him I did know, and that it made me really sad. I explained that these beliefs were wrong and harmful, but some people thought—and still think—that way.
I could see the distress on his face as he tried to process what I’d just told him. After a moment, he shook his head, clearly struggling to make sense of it all. I asked him what he was thinking, and his reply floored me:
“I thought your brains were in your head and your goodness was in your heart, not your skin.”
Have you had moments where your child surprised you with their wisdom or where a hard conversation led to growth? I’d love for us to share stories.