Our granddaughters sat in the back seat and discussed their day as we drove home. Caitlin, three, had been at day care. She told her sister about the police officer who visited that day. She related how he caught the bad guys and kept people safe.
Sylvie, five, asked her sister numerous questions about the police officer and his work. Finally she asked, "Did he bring a bad guy for you to see?"
"No," said Caitlin.
Wouldn't it be great if we could easily tell who the bad guys were? It's never that easy.
In the dynamics of relationships, how do we teach our girls to recognize the bad guys? They need to know the warning signs, the possessiveness, the imposed isolationism, the resentment, the sense of superiority, the jealousy, to name a few. It is not as easy as spotting a certain look. The girls must learn everyone has dignity and deserves respect, which includes them.
We taught our daughter these lessons years ago and as a parent, with her husband, she will do the same for her girls. We will support them in this work, as our parents supported us. As we listened to our granddaughters, the weight of the work ahead felt overwhelming. But, that work has begun already with how we, the adults in their lives, treat them and each other. However, we cannot do it alone.
Tomorrow, women around the world will march to highlight the need for equality and respect. Attitudes and actions must change and it starts with each of us. Our children deserve better.
21 comments:
Very well said, Marie. I do wish there was a way to tell the bad from the good, but most of us are a mix of the two. I know I will be happily surrounding by lots of good as I march tomorrow. :-)
Will we ever put down the monumental burden and just get on with being people?
In the meantime, to all tomorrow's marchers, Godspeed. And another lesson I read on a blog: Don't break the line.
I have spent some part of the week watching the body language of someone on TV in relation to his wife and I am wondering if we can determine good and bad from that.
What do the bad guys look like? Wouldn't it be nice if we could spot them so easily.
You are absolutely right. I applaud this post!
Hi Marie...your granddaughters are so cute! (I love their coats too). When my kids were young, I used to worry so! Back in the 80's and 90's (for some reason, I am not sure why) stranger-danger was popular to teach your children. We even went to police events and they handed out finger-printing kits for parents. Luckily God watched over them and we survived childhood years with them being safe. Andrea
I'll be with you in spirit, Jan.
I wish we could put down the burden, Joanne. Not any time soon the way this world is going...
It sure would, SS. A five year old wondered the same thing.
Thank you, Debra.
The strangers are the least of it these days, Andrea. Many of us live with it every day in our homes or work places.
A huge thank you to all the marchers. And to everyone who strives to make the world a safer, kinder place.
I hope the marchers stay safe, EC.
Body language tells us a lot, doesn't it, Tabor!
As a guy with two daughters and one granddaughter, I say here, here.
I love this Marie. Your granddaughters are adorable. I am so embarrassed by the horrible acceptance speech that our new President made yesterday. Please know that there are millions of us her in the U.S. that want WORLD PEACE ... not just ours alone!
thank you or your support,AC.
Thinking of my US sisters and those all around the world marching for people everywhere who want to be treated withignity and resoect.
Yes, yes, and yes!!!
The marches were wonderful! Yes!
Great picture!!!!! Glad you taught your girls well.
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