The beauty of one’s innocence is wonderful because it allows us to be inquisitive and genuine about the world. Adults need to know that children’s tendency to be observant is just in their nature; trying to squash those tendencies would do more harm than any good.
We need to let them be. Better yet, answer any observant questions they have about the world. Cause your actions and word may determine what kind of adult your young one will be.
Mrs. Cynthia and Holland have a long history of their friendship. It wasn’t just a waitress and customer’s child but they were like a part of a family. Holland and the Waffle House Mrs. Cynthia waitress were friends since she was a toddler. Holland’s mother, Mary Katherine always put her in her usual table at the corner booth with the raisin bread and apple juice ordered.
Mrs. Cynthia was serving them one day when Holland said something that left Mary speechless. The little girl asked a question that made her mother nervous, but Mrs. Cynthia had the perfect answer. “I wish I had dark skin like you, Mrs. Cynthia. How come your skin is so dark?” the girl inquired. Mrs. Cynthia’s response appeared simple, but it contained a great deal of wisdom. “Because God created everyone uniquely! Isn’t that fantastic?”
Then Holland fired again: “But, Mrs. Cynthia — if I had your skin, we could both dress up like Tiana!” Cynthia laughed learning Holland’s innocent response and replied, “You could still be Tiana if you want.”
It was at that point that Mary Katherine realized how important Mrs. Cynthia’s lesson had been for her and Holland. She wrote: “My three-year-old daughter sees the difference between a black woman and a white woman. Human beings aren’t born oblivious to our differences. And honestly, in so many ways, pretending these differences don’t exist is an insult. What we must do—intentionally—is teach our children to see and APPRECIATE the things that make God’s people so unique. Whether that be their race, nationality, or religious beliefs… We need to talk about these things. Because, spoiler alert: our kids ALREADY see them.”
