Doing what I can

 Monday night Braeden and Anna called.  Braeden said, "I need to talk to my mom."

We talked about the disorienting/harmful/embarrassing/choose-your-adjective events happening in our country.  Some of it directly impacts them and people they know.  I don't think I had any great wisdom for them, but I did say that the things that matter most are completely fine.  We have that to hold onto.

Braeden said that he heard recently that people should choose an institution they love and do everything they can to support it.  He said, "Like a library."

I thought about his words yesterday after we came across the word diversity in our phonics lesson and no one knew what it meant.

I said, "Here's a hint, if everyone in the class was exactly the same, we would not have diversity."

They clamored with hands raised, "Diversity means different!  We look different!"

"Yes," I said. "It's more than just how we look though.  Diversity is great because we get new ideas and new solutions and life is more interesting."

We started talking about food and where it originated from.  I said, "If we only had food originally from Utah, what would we eat?  Deer?"

A girl raised her hand and said, "Deer bacon is actually very good."

I will have to take her word for it.

It was the kind of rare and magical time where they were all engaged.  They were super interested that pasta went to Italy by way of China and Marco Polo.  They loved that chocolate was originally from America (but European chocolate is way better).  I looked into their faces, ranging from black to very pale and about 15 shades of brown in between.

I hope they remember that when they were in 3rd grade, Mrs. Davis thought diversity was great.  

They are my institution to love.  I will continue to throw my all into what I can do.