{hopes & dreams}

Monday, January 17, 2011



Last week Wyatt came home from school talking all about Martin Luther King, Jr. They were reading books about him at school and and he told me he was very interested in learning more
 about him and had lots of questions...

Was he a real king?
Does everyone have equal rights yet?
Why couldn't everyone just ride on a bus together?

We stopped at the book store the next day after school to try and find a book on MLK for him. There really weren't any books suitable for his age but he wanted one so bad so I gave in and got him one that is actually over is head.  I have a hard time saying No to anyone begging for a book. Really hard.
And at least it's not some junky toy, right? Yeah, that's why we have a house full of books.
And I figure he will be ready for that book before I know it anyway. 
In the mean time he told us everything he learned at school and started working on his own
book right away. That boy loves making his own books, he says he is the author and illustrator.



Later I heard him trying to explain segregation to Charlotte
(oh, how I wish I would've heard that whole conversation!) and I heard her say;
"White? I thought we were pink."
 It made me proud and made me want to cry at the same time.
 She had no idea we are considered "white".
If only we could all see things the way our kids do.  They don't care if we don't care.
They don't see differences if we don't.


I know we all have dreams for our kids. And hopes.
When I hear things like the shooting in Tucson last week I start to mentally freak out.
 How does this happen? No one raises their children with that in mind for their future.
No one thinks their child is going to be in the wrong place at the wrong time like that, either.
What kind of world are we raising our kids in?
It's hard and overwhelming and scary sometimes.
My hope is not that my children grow up to be doctors or lawyers, living debt-free in a
fancy house or even what many others may consider to be "successful".
Success to me would be that they grow up to be good people and live a good  life.
That's my hope.

*****
Join me here for Virtual Coffee tomorrow. I'll save ya a spot!

17 comments:

  1. I have not been following your blog for too long, but I just wanted to share with you how lovely your photography is. You do have your own style and eye for composition that is unique and your own and I have been thoroughly enjoying it. Thank you for sharing your art!

    Chelsea
    Early to Rise

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a wonderful post again! I love your words and your photos!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your pictures take my breath away, and your words are always inspirational!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love that picture of Charlotte looking up with the peace sign, so beautiful - the photo and the sentiment.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love this post so much, Amy...I am speechless. You captured the essence of all that is good in the world (or what should be).

    ReplyDelete
  6. The "pink" thought made me laugh so hard. So genuine. So clear. So happy you are opening your kids minds, keeping them open and passing MLK's ideas along. One day the world will be as his dream was. Until then we do our own work to help it along. See you tomorrow over coffee!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I too love that pic of Charlotte looking up!!! I love the whole series! That is so sweet about Wyatt and I hear ya about just wanting your kids to be good people! Rayne thinks dark skin is the most beautiful. She typically requests the dark skinned dolls! I love it!

    ReplyDelete
  8. i looove seeing kids have a love for books!
    that's awesome:)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Beautiful post! I love this story =)

    Beautiful photos as well. Your daughters eyes are so beautiful, big & blue! Gorgeous! xo

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wonderful post. Perfectly said with gorgeous pictures that really captured everything you said.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Amy this is such a touching post, I absolutely love it. And great photos!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Amy, a post with great pictures, buying a book (always good in my eyes) and life lessons from your childrens perspective, GREAT post! Loved it! And having two girls who have both black and white in them, I know what you mean, raising good kids, that's all that matters!
    Maureen xx

    ReplyDelete
  13. oh amy....what a brilliant afternoon of conversation with wyatt!!

    our eldest daughter Ella is in King college at her HS of performing arts & tech....what a college to begin HS in!
    she is so proud!

    it's funny you said C thought they were "pink"...i travelled through the south pacific with my parents when i was about her age...and on one of the islands i told my parents that the people were "very black"...
    of course they worried that their child had suddenly become racist...but when they asked me why i hadn't said that on any other island- apparently i replied because "they are all rainbows & happy"...
    i saw people as colours that for me represented their emotional state- not the colour of their skin at all!

    gorgeous photos of your girl as usual!

    melissa xxx

    ReplyDelete
  14. well, gee, everyone already said everything i had to say...

    precious and powerful post! thank you

    ReplyDelete
  15. I can relate to what you are saying, it is only by educating our children of where humankind has made mistakes in the past that we can change what happens in the future. I think if every mother did the same it can only mean a better future for everyone.

    ReplyDelete
  16. What a remarkably beautiful reflection!!! Your words and photographs touch the heart of mlk day!

    ReplyDelete

leave me a comment...you know you wanna.