I was lying in bed this morning, contemplating getting up, when L hopped in and asked, “Mama? Why don’t I have school today?” I replied that it was Martin Luther King Jr Day. “Who’s that?” she asked.
Hmm. How to explain the civil rights movement in kindergarten terms and under 5 minutes (about how long I had before she moves on to something else…)?
First, I started with this. “Well, remember your friend, ___ at school? A long time ago you wouldn’t have been able to go to the same school…”
“Oh! Because she’s full day and I’m half day?”
I decided to go a different direction. Why explain prejudice to somebody who doesn’t have it?
Basically, I told her that what we do is more important than what we look like.
“How we are on the inside, Mama?”
“Yep.”
7 responses to “MLK”
lydee
January 19th, 2009 at 11:02
good one mommy! although the full and half day crack me up!
Judy P
January 19th, 2009 at 13:36
Nice job on this explanation. I lived in DC during the riots that led up to the “speech”. I am grateful things have changed.
Allegra
January 19th, 2009 at 13:58
great story. aren’t kids awesome?
Nachaele Olson
January 19th, 2009 at 18:49
That is classic! What a great mom you are! 🙂
turvid
January 21st, 2009 at 12:45
Just cute! 🙂
knittedgems
January 21st, 2009 at 14:29
Nicely done.
Although I love her explanation best of why she couldn’t go to school with the little girl.
Claudia
January 21st, 2009 at 21:26
Too cute, I so hope our kids will never have to learn of prejudices.