Do They Know I'm Adopted?

A few months ago (before schools shut down in the spring of 2020), our seven year-old grandson and his mom were having a discussion about the fact that he is adopted. The conversation was in response to Reuben telling her one of his friends at school asked him about it. The friend, who was just curious, had asked not because Rueben is biologically Asian and his parents are not, but because someone's mom had a baby. 

In the middle of the conversation, Reuben paused for a moment before asking, "Mom, do Grandpa and Nanna know I'm adopted?" 

Olivia did her best not to laugh as she answered, "Yes, Reuben. They know." If I remember correctly, she told him how we were at the airport to welcome them home when they brought him home from Taiwan and a few other memories like that. Reuben, being Reuben, was satisfied with the answer she gave, and went on about the business of doing his chores, playing in the dirt, and riding his bike. You know--all the essentials of being seven. 

When Olivia told me about the conversation, we both laughed about it, but I have to say it made my heart grow a few sizes because it was a great big gigantic 'thumb's up' that Reuben had never ever felt different from his cousins--except the fact that he's been the only boy for those seven years among six girl cousins. It made me thankful beyond words that he knows for sure and for certain we love him just because he's Reuben. That's 'all'. 

Our kids and grandkids should all have to ask questions like the one Reuben asked. They should all have to ask (out of curiosity) if we see anything but their fearfully and wonderfully made little hearts and minds because they've never been made to feel or think that being different equals being less. 

We are all different from each other. Whether it be size, the color of our hair or eyes, which hand we use, our academic or athletic abilities, or any other on an endless list of possibilities, we are all different. So if your littles have to ask if you see them for what they are, instead of who they are...and if you can answer 'no', I just want to say...GO YOU! 

Love,

Momma D

        Copy right 2020 Darla Noble. No part of this can be used or copied without permission from the author. www.dnoblewrites.com 

                                                                                                                   

Teach Them What They Don't Remember

Throughout the months of November and December, I spend much of my time speaking to students; presenting a program on WWII based on the book, "All my love, George...Letters from a WWII hero".

The presentation consists of interacting with students to find out what they know about WWII, a brief reading from the book itself, letting students look through George's original letters, pictures, the medals he was awarded for his service, and other war memorabilia, and answering their many questions. I love doing this. I'd do it just about every day if I could--and here's why.

1: I love spending time with middle school thru high school kids. Yah, I know--that qualifies me as crazy as far as a lot of you are concerned, but so be it. I just really enjoy tweens and teens.

2: I love sharing George's story. In telling George's story through his letters and the thoughts of the little brother he was writing to, (sixty plus years after the fact), we literally get to step back in time into their lives. We experience things from their perspective instead of just reading the facts.

3: I love explaining to students WHY they are able to enjoy the privileges they have and show them the faces of some who made their lives possible.

Did you get that--the fact that I have to explain why? When we say things like, "We must always remember," or "Let us not forget...." young people don't have any idea what that means because they don't have memories to remember. Think about it--they can't remember what they didn't experience. I can't even remember, because I wasn't there, either. Were you?

The point I want to make is this: We have to stop expecting our kids to remember the men and women who served and died selflessly for our benefit. Instead, we need to teach them who these men and women were, teach them the realities of WWII (and war in general), and teach them to honor and respect the history of our nation and the people whose lives and deaths authored that history.

Parents, if we want our children to have a future in the greatest nation on earth, we need to teach them to live lives of gratitude and respect for the greatest generations--those who fought to make and keep us great and free.

Love,
Momma D

                                             No part of this can be used or copied without permission by the author. Copyright 2019 Darla Noble.