From the second we open our eyes and draw our first breath of life, we learn. All we know at that moment is the love and warmth of the person holding us. That feeling should be our driving force in life. However, sometimes this is not the case. In a world of darkness and hate, we should always be our children's guiding light. They follow our lead and learn to do as we do. We have to teach them what is right, even if it means putting aside our own emotions. As we grow, we learn the ways of the world. We see the beauty and ugliness and it begins to shape our opinions.
Kids are not born seeing things the way adults do. They see everyone equally, as we all should. They don't see the color of someones skin, religion, or sexuality. They see a person, another human being just like them. This is what we should allow them to believe. No matter our feelings. Children should be allowed to form their own opinions through life experiences. We shouldn't teach them to trust everyone. That's a different story. Understanding isn't blind trust. Instead, teach them to have a general respect for everyone that they meet. They shouldn't look at a person and judge them based on that. They should learn to get to know people and judge them based on who they are as a whole. Kids shouldn't know the hatred of the world. They should be able to go through life with a positive outlook. They should be able to make friends with other kids and enjoy their childhood.
As a child my house was a cultural melting pot. My parents came from very different backgrounds. My mother came from a Native American background with her father being part Irish. My father came from Czech and Polish immigrant parents. When I was young my mother married a Hispanic man and I was able to learn a whole new culture and language. My mother had a respect for everyone and taught us to be the same. She would take us to multi-cultural events and invited people to share their life lessons with us. She taught us to love everyone and be there for those who need us regardless of their background.
As a a parent, I strive to teach my children all the ways of the world. I teach my children about the different cultures and religions of the world. We have friends and family in different religions, cultures, and sexual orientations. Our kids are constantly questioning everything and want to learn more and more. I work to get them to understand the world in its entirety. We invite people to share their experiences and lives with us. We have learned various religions and cultures and begun to incorporate different things into our lives.
Kids should be able to see the beauty in all things. They should be able to have a positive outlook on life. They should be able to make friends based on someone being a good person. They shouldn't look down upon another person because they don't believe the same things. They should be able to use it as another opportunity to learn. They should treat all people equally. Kids are the most beautiful beings on Earth when they have a pure heart. Let's work together to change the heart of the world by raising children without the hate of the world.
