Despite my strong opinions on most things (no!) and apparent urge to share them, I continue to surprise myself by failing repeatedly to attend protests. I also don’t post political signs in my yard. Not for any good reason I can think of - or recall, anyway. Recently, though, I’ve been considering changing my ways - mostly to allow my children to experience protesting, to let them see how it can feel to strongly object to something the larger society supports, to stand up for their beliefs, and to exercise a freedom that I don’t appreciate nearly enough.
I thought about it some more one morning this week when we noticed peace supporters waving anti-war signs (OK, giant bed sheets) about a local peace protest. It took my 4 & 1/2-year-old son less than 10 seconds to start pumping the questions: Mama, why are those people holding those signs? What do they say?
So we discussed the whole thing, rightin the middle of the bus. Which, incidentally, is where we seem to hold most extremely controversial and alarming conversations; where I have - truly - honed my now phenomenally tactful and PC explanations on a wide variety of touchy subjects. Thanks to public transit for putting those ‘opportunities’ in our path.
The protesters have already served a great purpose, simply by evoking a conversation with my son about protesting in general and how I feel about our country being involved in ‘battles.’ At 4 & 1/2, battles are on the tippy top of the fascinating topics list, even above police cars/ambulances/fire trucks and monsters. But I’m unsure of taking him to a protest at 4 & 1/2. Having attended so few, I can’t accurately assess the pros and cons. Have you attended a protest with your child? How did it go? What age seems appropriate?
Hear what else Lisa has to say about our country’s dreadful public policies for families & her random efforts to improve them at Activistas.
