"Unless they want to hold my sign for a minute, I don’t have them hold signs they don’t understand the meaning of"
I like this one. I always feel a bit weird when I see really little kids holding signs at protests. It's cute, and I get it, but, seemingly like you, it sometimes reminds me of being brainwashed as a child. Not that I think that's happening at all, but it just brings back some of those feelings. I'd rather wait until they can express that they know what's going on and why we're here.
I agree, it feels weird! As much as I may agree with the sentiment of the sign… I want a kid to understand what they’re expressing before they publicly express it like that!
Oof, this is a lot to think about. Our 9 year old loves coming to protests. It’s rough to think they might not agree one day, which gives me a lot of empathy for my mom with whom I now vehemently disagree.
Aw I’m glad your 9 year old loves it so much! But yes it’s kind of mind bending to wonder if they might not always align/agree with us, and makes me think about how sincerely held beliefs don’t mean they’re correct…and I should make some space for that to apply to me, too… (and creates some empathy for our evangelical parents!)
I love that you take your children, Christine. It feels like you are nourishing their minds, not with specific doctrine, but with the importance of being active involved citizens who stand up visibly for what they believe is right. This is foundational to democracy, and in eras like this one in which every branch of government is either possessed by lawlessness or at least cowed by it, the efforts of ordinary citizens to stop corrupt power may be the only thing that saves democracy.
"Unless they want to hold my sign for a minute, I don’t have them hold signs they don’t understand the meaning of"
I like this one. I always feel a bit weird when I see really little kids holding signs at protests. It's cute, and I get it, but, seemingly like you, it sometimes reminds me of being brainwashed as a child. Not that I think that's happening at all, but it just brings back some of those feelings. I'd rather wait until they can express that they know what's going on and why we're here.
I agree, it feels weird! As much as I may agree with the sentiment of the sign… I want a kid to understand what they’re expressing before they publicly express it like that!
Oof, this is a lot to think about. Our 9 year old loves coming to protests. It’s rough to think they might not agree one day, which gives me a lot of empathy for my mom with whom I now vehemently disagree.
Aw I’m glad your 9 year old loves it so much! But yes it’s kind of mind bending to wonder if they might not always align/agree with us, and makes me think about how sincerely held beliefs don’t mean they’re correct…and I should make some space for that to apply to me, too… (and creates some empathy for our evangelical parents!)
I love that you take your children, Christine. It feels like you are nourishing their minds, not with specific doctrine, but with the importance of being active involved citizens who stand up visibly for what they believe is right. This is foundational to democracy, and in eras like this one in which every branch of government is either possessed by lawlessness or at least cowed by it, the efforts of ordinary citizens to stop corrupt power may be the only thing that saves democracy.
Thank you for writing this. About to embark on this journey as a mom of 4 and feeling nervous.