Parenting as Activism

Our society views the work of caring for and educating young children as unimportant.  We undervalue the people who do that work, and so they are under-resourced, under-paid, over-worked, and disrespected.  Often, those of us who do this work absorb those messages about our worth and learn to undervalue ourselves.

But.  Social change has never happened quickly.  It isn’t easy to change the minds and behaviors of adults.  But we can teach kids.  The arc of history is long, but it bends towards justice.  The only way to create change is to work towards it over generations.  Those of us who care for and educate children hold future history in our hands, as we have influence over the next generation.  

Value your parenting as activism. It doesn’t matter if you can’t make it to the rally because it is at naptime, or because you can’t manage your three kids in a crowd by yourself.  It doesn’t matter if you don’t have time to go door to door to help with a campaign.  There are other people who can do that piece of the work.  Raising your children with intention, guiding them through the swamp of societal influence (which seems to bend in the wrong direction) so that they develop a strong sense of justice and know how to be upstanders, being clear about your values and what you hope theirs will be…this is how you change the next generation.  This is how you create lasting social change. It’s in our hands. And it doesn’t have to take any more time or work.  It only requires a shift in perspective and some tweaking of your parenting behaviors.  You’re already on the right track.  Keep going.