A Letter To My Children

Kids on Beach

My Children,

I know I’ve told you all these years, when something bad happens on television, to look for the helpers. There are always helpers, there are always people with good hearts there to reach out their hand and help a fellow human being. Looking for these people, helps our heart, it helps our minds understand the tragedy before us. It helps us to make sense of this carnage on our television screen, right? If we see helpers, it means our faith in humanity is still in tact.

Screw that. In light of this past month, and the numerous mass shootings we see everyday on television, it’s past time to look for the helpers…..you must BE a helper! You see, telling you to look for the helpers, was my way of feeling like I was doing something, feeling like I was helping you through this tragic world. But it’s not, and I’m not.

I am so sick of tiptoeing around this issue. I am so sick of pretending I’m doing something by telling you to “look for the helpers”. I’m sick of seeing it on Facebook, I’m sick of seeing blog posts about it, while we are doing NOTHING.

No, I have not lost hope in humanity. I have not lost hope in the helpers. I am mad. In fact, I am done. This is not what I hoped for you, and I am sorry I have not acted sooner. Sometimes the mindfulness I have instilled in you since you were young, creates passivity. Sometimes, those who are the most mindful, are too quiet. Sometimes our kindness is mistaken for weakness…..and we are anything but weak.

What I am going to tell you now is different my children. Instead of looking for the helpers, let’s look for something different.
Let’s look for those wishing to pray this away…..is it working?
Let’s look for those carrying guns to get the bad guy before he get’s them….is it working?
Let’s look for those complaining on Facebook…..is it working?
Let’s look for those who fear their right to guns being taken away…so much so that they will solely blame mental health for this carnage….is it working?
Let’s look for those people who assume that the bad guys usually have brown skin……is it working?
Let’s look for those willing to marginalize humans by the location they were born into…..is it working?
Let’s look for those operating through fear…..is it working? Not as a group, but individually, is it working?

Yep, even you, at your young age, can see that bigotry, racism, religion, fear and complaints won’t change a thing……not a thing.

Can we just say it out loud??? IT”S NOT WORKING!!! Let’s say it together. IT”S NOT WORKING!!!

This world isn’t going to change itself. There are people very motivated by money, by racism, by religion, and by fear that are willing to work for it. They are willing to do what it takes to create the change they want to see. The change that fit’s their agenda, and moves them further up the ladder of humanity in their minds.

We are going to change our direction now my children. Now, instead of looking for the helpers, we will be mindful of the areas WE can effect change. Look where YOU can be the helper. Let’s fine tune this and pinpoint the areas we can be of help. What are WE willing to work for?

I am going to treat you as the powerful humans you are my children. You. Have. Power. Don’t let all the rules of childhood confuse you. You are the people who will create change.

Use your power to decide where you stand on this issue, not just where Dad and I stand, but where YOU stand.
Use your power to dream about the change you will create.
Use your power to bring the other children with you.
Use your power to speak up about injustice…not tiptoe around it.
Use your power to speak out about skin color and the significance of it.
Use your power to unite the different cultures in support of collaboration not competition.
Use your power to elevate fellow humans in collaboration with each other, and for each other.
Use your power to be mindful of the feelings inside of you.
Use your power to be mindful of the change you are capable of.
Use your power to educate yourself, so that you can speak clearly, intelligently and powerfully.
Use your power to see the person behind the pain, because unless you see that, you are powerless.
Use your power to harness your feelings into something better for you and for our world.

Above all, use your power to be kind. Because, while we may disagree religiously, philosophically, and fundamentally, we are all humans.

I learn from you everyday, my children. Please continue to teach the adults about kindness, compassion, humanity and inclusion. We think we are so smart, we think we teach you about these things. We are misguided.

As your parent, I promise to be a model for change.
I promise to give you all the love, caring and guidance you can handle.
I promise to be do my best to understand other cultures, not fear them.
I promise to stop tip-toeing around real issues in fear of upsetting others.
I promise to show you how change is created, by learning what needs to be done, and doing it.
I promise to not keep my mouth shut.
I promise, no matter how hard….to keep trying.
I promise to stop telling you to look for the helpers, and to step up and be one.
I promise to create change, so that you will understand how powerful one person can be.
I promise to get started today.

Love,
Your Mom

Written by

1 Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *