Monday, January 21, 2019

Teaching Children About The Dream

Last week I have the privilege of visiting a friend's 3rd grade classroom to speak on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  I hope to have the opportunity to honor him every year, especially as the children get farther away in history from the incredible impact he made.

I find history and people fascinating.  I loved sharing the power of history if we touch both the generations before us and those after us.  If I join hands with the children and tell them my stories they can touch history all the way back to the early 1960's.  When I share the stories of my parents, we can go back to the 1930's and if I tell them about my great-grandfather that I knew and loved, they can link to history from the late 1800's. 

The prejudice and cruelty of the 60's is not so long ago.  I can reach back and touch it.  I vaguely remember separate water fountains and restrooms but I vividly remember the rioting I witnessed in Washington, DC.  I remember the pressure to not talk to blacks when I was in school.  I remember the meetings that were held in our neighborhood trying to force our family out because we let people of all races into our home.  I remember participating in the March on Washington and seeing my dad weep the day Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr was shot.

I am grateful for the changes I have seen in my lifetime.  They are huge.  There aren't separate restrooms and water fountains.  People have the right to vote.  They have the right to an education and great opportunities of employment.  We need to celebrate the advancements that have happened due to Dr. King's sacrifice and the sacrifices of many others.  

However, we still have a long way to go!  Our children and grandchildren need to know the pain of the past and the realities of the present.  After I spoke to the 3rd grade class, they had to complete the sentence, "I have a dream..." for themselves.  There were some very honest and vulnerable responses.
What struck me though was the racial tension that exists today was rarely mentioned.  This was a very multi-cultural class so I expected them to say more about it.  In some respects, I am glad racial tension is not huge on their radar, but in other respects, I am saddened.  Do they know that we have a long way to go?  Are we sharing and teaching enough about it?

I guess part of my dream is to never forget the past, to recognize the issues and pain of the present, and to commit to Dr. Martin Luther King's dreams for the future.  We still have so much to do.

Friday, January 11, 2019

Aging Parents and Loss

Bill and I finished teaching our "Aging Parents and Loss" class in December. We love sharing our experiences and the things we have learned.  Our hope is that we can give encouragement and make the journey a little easier for others.

Walking through the journey of aging parents can be hard.  Seeing our parents, the roles in relationships, and the future change can be difficult, but walking right through the middle of those challenges can make the road a little easier.

A couple of weeks ago two people from our class shared the results of using the suggestions we gave in class.  The honest conversations we had gave them permission, in a sense, to go ahead and have the awkward conversations with their parents.  Their conversations went well.  Oftentimes we are all thinking the same thing but are afraid to bring them up.

Another friend shared that he used our tips on "Communicating With Your Hard-of-Hearing Grandparents" and "Communicating With Your Grandchildren."  He sat down with his grandchildren and said, "This is me."  They talked over the suggestions and even had a few laughs along the way.
He also shared that he and his wife wrote a schedule on a chalkboard each day so one of his guests for the holidays would be more comfortable and less anxious about what the day might bring.

Bill and I love teaching this class because we have seen how much easier it is when you have friends that understand the challenges and are walking the road with you.  If you are interested in attending a class or just have some questions, please feel free to contact us.


Bill and Deana Boggess
gracewithoutmargins@aim.com
512-673-0187