Cute Kid Story

[persephone33]

I tried to go to the bank yesterday.  Why, I ask you, do I always need to go to the bank on National Holidays?  Yesterday was MartinLuther King, Jr.'s birthday, or at least when it's observed.  I needed to go to the mall (To get something to squish me into that freaking dress) and for my children, the mall = cookies.  So I thought I'd swing by the bank and get some cash so I could buy my children a treat for making them stand around in women's lingerie.   Er, the women's lingerie section. Of Dillard's.  When I pulled up, however, the bank was closed.  I made some politically incorrect, insensitive comment, not because I don't think MLK wasn't a great man, but because I was inconvienienced.  My six year old, Ethan, asked who Martin luther King was, and so I took advantage of the teachable moment and explained how only 40 years ago black people in our country were treated as second class citizens, that they were forced to drink from separate water fountains and eat at different parts of restaurants, etc, and that MLK helped make it possible for those laws to be repealed.  I asked him if he didn't think that segregation was just silly?  Ethan said that he couldn't believe that, and that he thought that it didn't matter what you look like, that God loves everyone the same.  

*mommy dies at how sweet natured her son is*

Then Aaron (4) pipes up from the backseat.  

Aaron.  Mommy?

Me.  Yes?

Aaron.  What's black mean?

Me.  Well, you know Dalvin?  (a boy we take to church with us)  And how his skin is a different color than yours?

Aaron.  Yeah?

Ethan.  (interjects - anxious to get to the point)  He's black, and we're white.

Aaron.  (is silent for a minute) I'm not white.

Me.  You aren't?  

Aaron.  I'm peach.  (thinks some more)  Mommy's white.  With brown spots.

[Sadly, true story]

Ethan.  They're called freckles, genius. 

And then *poof*  teachable moment GONE.

Comments

[elle-blessing.livejournal.com]

*laughs* Your kids sound cute :)

♥

[persephone33.livejournal.com]

Cute. Heh. Sometimes. They're a mess.

[embe11ished.livejournal.com]

Well, at least neither of your children seems to discriminate based on race, which is at least a start. Maybe the teachable moment wasn't so necessary after all. And you got a cute kid story out of it too!

[persephone33.livejournal.com]

They don't discriminate on race... Just who has the most cookies, or best snacks. :)

Seriously, though, It makes me hopeful that in another 40 years all racial discrimination will be gone.

[orpheus-samhain.livejournal.com]

So, you didn't know that your son is peach not white? ;) Ahaha! What a mother! ;)

[persephone33.livejournal.com]

I know! How stupid and unobservant am I?

[alittleredhood.livejournal.com]

This story sounds oddly familiar...hmmmmmm....

See you Thursday? Call me if there's a change of plans. I have a meeting for the school mag after school Thursday (I'm editor-in-cheif, w00t!) but it should be done by 4:30. If not I'll leave early. They can deal. I was one of the only THREE people who showed up to the last meeting, so...yeah.

P.S. I totally love the Ethandraco picture. I tried to get him to make that face for my camera but he wouldn't. I did get some very convincing monster photos though.

[persephone33.livejournal.com]

No, Thursday's good. The boys are excited. I'll pick you up (or Nolan will) about 5:30, I have to be at the theatre at 6:30. And traffic sucks at that time of day... but anyway, go to your meeting, for sure. Congrats on being editor! Yay!

I want to see the monster pics!

[kristibisci.livejournal.com]

So cute! What sweet, socially conscious kids you have. Not to mention (perhaps overly) observant. ;)

[persephone33.livejournal.com]

Yes, I wish sometimes they paid less attention to things surrounding them. For instance, the six year old was eyeing the mannequins in the shops I went in. Hopefully it was just to laugh at them standing around in their underwear, but I don't think so.

[dragonsangel68.livejournal.com]

Your boys are so cute! Aaron actually has a point ;P

[persephone33.livejournal.com]

Yes, he usually does have a point. He is very wise.

[ravens-hold.livejournal.com]

That was so cute. Your children sound so adorable. I think that it was wonderful that you took the moment to teach them. Not many people now days would have taking the opportunity presented to them.

[persephone33.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I try to take the opportunities presented, but you never know how much soaks in!