Archive for the ‘Holidays’ Category

A Dozen Spring Traditions Around the World

Friday, April 12th, 2013

My co-author for our upcoming book, The K-5 Global Education Toolkit (yes – it’s going to be AWESOME!), Becky Morales, has compiled an amazing list of Spring Traditions Around the World, housed at her fabulous blog, kidworldcitizen.org.  Here’s a link to the post, http://kidworldcitizen.org/2013/04/12/spring-traditions-around-the-world/, which includes:

  1. European Mama’s wonderful list of Polish traditions
  2. The Educators’ Spin On It introduces us to the Spring holiday of Holi
  3. Swiss Spring Tradition Sechselaeuten- Kid World CitizenExpat Since Birth writes about the exciting Swiss tradition of Sechseläuten (Sächsilüüte)
  4. Mud Hut Mama shares her own unique family Spring tradition of making their own piñatas. Becky says: “My favorite quote of the article: “There’s an American baseball swing at a Mexican tradition in Malawi on a British owned estate where they grow a Chinese drink which will most likely be drunk in India.” It doesn’t get more global than this!”
  5. Little Artists celebrates her wedding anniversary every Spring coincidentally during the Qing Ming Festival. Varya is originally from Russia, and tells the story of how she met her husband of Tanzania, got married, and how they have settled together in China.
  6. Kids Yoga Stories has a lovely (free) yoga lesson plan for Spring
  7. On Glittering Muffins they share one of Quebec’s biggest Spring traditions
  8. Spring Now Ruz Card Exchange- Kid World CitizenLeanna, at All Done Monkey, shares her creative idea of hosting a global card exchange for the Bahá’í New Year Naw Rúz.
  9. Becky also shares: “Homa Tavangar also discusses Naw Rúz, in this excellent article at the Huffington Post. As a Persian and as a Bahá’í, Homa talks about ending the fast, marking the New Year (or Nowruz- Persian for New Year), and gives a message of hope and happiness.”
  10. Discovering the World through my Son’s Eyes writes about making special cascarones (colored eggs normally filled with confetti)
  11. 52 Days to Explore gives ideas for families who’d like to try “Star Gazing”
  12. Sprout’s Bookshelf, shares a list of spring-themed books

THANK YOU BECKY FOR PUTTING TOGETHER THIS AMAZING LIST!!! (And thanks for these photos from your blog.)

This group also is special because it’s part of a wonderful group of Multicultural Kid Bloggers, found here: http://multiculturalkidblogs.com/member-blogs/.

Do you have a Spring tradition not listed here, or is one of these practiced in your home?

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A Family Thanksgiving Tradition That Gives Back

Wednesday, November 21st, 2012

One of our favorite (newer) traditions each Thanksgiving with our large, and usually ornery extended family is what we call the “Global Giving Game.”  I described it in this piece linked and pasted below, which was published – surprisingly! – on FoxNews.com soon after Growing Up Global’s publication.  I’m a little disappointed that all the comments have since been taken down, as they were as (more than?) entertaining as the article, but mostly for their negativity and misinformation.  Most comments went something like, “What a bunch of liberal sissies brainwashing your kids. … Don’t look at problems in other countries; we have our own here. … Don’t teach about being a global citizen, be proud to be an American citizen…”  Yeah – we’ve heard that  before…

Also, note the title of the piece, “A New Black Friday Tradition.”  When Global Giving learned about our activity, they really wanted it to dovetail with their terrific “Great American Sleep-In” campaign, encouraging the avoidance of the malls, big box stores and rampant consumerism.  The two (giving and shopping) don’t need to be mutually exclusive, and every family will make up their own priorities and values, but it’s a great idea, even for a dinner table discussion!

Here’s the link to the original piece: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2009/11/25/homa-tavangar-black-friday-giving-global-giving/.

And here’s the text in it’s entirety, if that’s easier to access. 

A New Black Friday Tradition

By

Published November 25, 2009

FoxNews.com

My large extended family loves Thanksgiving. We make travel arrangements months in advance in anticipation of my mom’s delicious homemade feast. Recently we’ve added a new tradition that begins with an e-mail to everyone who plans to gather around the table Thursday. The e-mail makes no mention of recipes but instead offers instructions and a challenge. It’s tied into a new holiday tradition in our family called Global Giving’s “Great American Sleep In.” This resembles a game, but has real consequences.

While writing the book “Growing Up Global: Raising Children to Be At Home in the World” I discovered many ways families could engage with and explore the world – even if they couldn’t purchase plane tickets – and I developed a “toolbox” to help kids have fun and make sense of the world they are inheriting. At home, we decided to hold a “theme dinner” and watch a movie from India, Ireland or Iran, interspersed with our usual Disney classics; we adding dance tunes from Brazil, Sweden and Morocco to our favorite music playlists; we are now engaging in richer conversations at the dinner table and even keeping a globe handy in the kitchen. We’ve enjoyed these new traditions that not only have connected us with the larger world, but have brought us closer as a family.

Likewise, at Thanksgiving, when we usually play games like “Scattergories” or charades we considered an alternative. We asked, “what if we added a fun experience that also made a difference in the world?” It was then that we decided to make giving back a conscious component of our larger family gathering. I learned about so many great causes while writing “Growing Up Global,” the biggest challenge seemed: “which one to choose?” Luckily I found a solution to this conundrum at GlobalGiving (www.globalgiving.org). This terrific organization operates like an Amazon.com or an eBay for charitable giving in the U.S. and overseas. You can “shop” for the cause that most appeals to you and get involved as much or as little as you wish. So how does it work?

Between the main meal and dessert at our Thanksgiving feast last year we divided the family into teams. Each team had a laptop and navigated the GlobalGiving.org Web site (if you’re doing this with your family you can also play together around one computer). We allowed each group twenty minutes to come up with a team recommendation; then the entire group got to choose one charity from among these to support. Our family teams passionately debated the merits of providing lunches for students in Burkina Faso, or foster care for abandoned infants in the U.S. We were most challenged by having to decide on a single project — the needs of the world seemed too big to narrow our choices down in such a short time, or ever. Finally, we decided on a program supporting girls’ education in Afghanistan.

For foodie families like ours, proposing anything new at Thanksgiving took some getting used to. Responses ranged from skepticism to curiosity, and eventually, enthusiasm. The youngest ones came the most prepared. They proudly shared money saved from allowances and the tooth fairy, ranging from 78 cents to $3.00.

The challenge spurred a family discussion around the question “Why care?” Conversations with my kindergartner influenced even the most cynical members of our family. We talked about how all the people of the world function like a human body. Our liver might not be aware of our little toe, but if you hurt your little toe and the pain doesn’t go away, the whole body suffers. Likewise, we can be affected by someone far away. Their hunger or lack of schooling might not seem connected to us, but eventually it is –whether in the form of a global financial crisis or the spread of anger that turns into terrorism. Here’s another way of thinking about it: if we truly believe that all people are one family, God’s children, then we wouldn’t want our family to suffer.

Our goal wasn’t to raise big money, $10 dollars here, $5 dollars there would suffice but over the course of the game something else happened — wallets and checkbooks kept opening. For the rest of the evening and even into the New Year, our family’s conversations returned to the GlobalGiving experience and the girls’ school in Afghanistan. This year we’re taking things a step further with the “Great American Sleep-In.” Instead of braving the mall traffic on Black Friday to acquire one more gadget or tie for dad, we think we might help to transform a life in his name, with a gift that gives back through GlobalGiving.

Our little interlude between turkey and dessert helped open our eyes to tremendous and complex needs. At the same time, we felt optimistic and empowered that great things are being made possible by good people all over the planet. Their causes helped to unite us, from age 5 to 93, around a common vision of hope and giving. And for this, my family is truly grateful.

Homa S. Tavangar is the author of “Growing Up Global: Raising Children to Be At Home in the World,” released Fall 2009 by Ballantine Books, a division of Random House, and named a “Best New Parenting Book” from Scholastic Parent & Child. Visit her at www.growingupglobal.net. Join the “Great American Sleep In” at http://www.globalgiving.org/gifts-black-friday/

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2009/11/25/homa-tavangar-black-friday-giving-global-giving/#ixzz2CrsR4m3j

 

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Posted in Articles, Food, Giving, Global education, Global Giving, Golden Rule, Holidays, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

You Don’t Have to Be Chinese to Celebrate the Year of the Dragon – Lunar New Year

Sunday, January 22nd, 2012

The Year of the Dragon celebrations offer a great opportunity to grow our understanding of the world – while having fun with our kids.  Before you good-intentionally blurt out “Happy Chinese New Year,” to colleagues and neighbors – stop!  “Chinese New Year” represents a subset of the cultures that celebrate.  It’s also a festivity in Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Nepal, Thailand, Mongolia, Brunei, Indonesia, and more, with some of the biggest festivals taking place in Canada and Australia.  So, say “Happy Lunar New Year!” And some call it Spring Festival, even though to many of us in colder locales that feels like a stretch.

You also don’t have to be East Asian to celebrate.  My family is Iranian-American and some of our favorite memories are of making fresh dumplings with neighbors in the deep winter for the New Year, attending Philadelphia’s Chinatown parade followed by a dim sum feast with transplants from four continents, and for our girls, wearing the traditional Chinese silk brocade dress, that comes in every color and size.

I was struck by President Obama’s 40-second Lunar New Year greeting (click here to watch), which he put in the context of his own fond memories: “growing up in Hawaii I remember all the excitement surrounding the Lunar New Year, from the parades and the fireworks to the smaller gatherings with family and friends.  It’s always been a time for celebration and for hope. ” He also uses this as an occasion to remind Americans that we gain strength from our diversity – a message that can resonate whatever your political leanings (unless, of course, you think that Mitt Romney’s French language abilities are a liability).

Did the President celebrate with his Kansan grandparents, who were vital to his upbringing and support system, or with his mother after her return from Indonesia, or more likely, with all of them, since Lunar New Year has been integrated into Hawaiian life, too?  These celebrations may have been formative to the American President who has been criticized for stating he is “an American citizen and a citizen of the world.”  Having a personal experience of something as joyous and free from an agenda as celebrating a new holiday with friends can widen the vision of the possibilities for our own lives, especially at a formative age: what second language we might learn, where we might study or do business, who our friends and loved ones can be, art that resonates, food and music we enjoy, and more.  It also helps us become more compassionate to the lives of others – near or far.

This year is particularly portentous as the Year of the Dragon, a symbol of power and excellence, courage, heroism and perseverance, nobility and divinity. With all the power a dragon has, he uses it benevolently.  This wisdom and restraint is a source of wealth and respect.

So, make dumplings; finally learn how to eat gracefully with chopsticks; learn a phrase in Mandarin or Vietnamese; reach out to a new immigrant family in your community; or get to know the couple that runs the ethnic shop nearby.  And imagine: how will you be a wise and kind dragon, radiant on the inside, spreading beauty and promise on the outside?

 

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5 Ways Families Can Honor Dr. King & The Dream

Sunday, January 8th, 2012

I think it’s essential that kids grow up with memories of actively marking the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday and birthday.  At most schools this is a day off, and a growing movement advocates making this a “day on.”  When parents engage with their children on the important matters Dr. King spoke out for, it sticks.  Here are 5 simple steps to get started.

Volunteer.  Search local churches, service organizations, interfaith coalitions, and school groups for a volunteer activity you can plug into.  You can look up the official National Service Day website, plug in your zip code and find out what’s going on: http://mlkday.gov.  Talk about some of the service options you’ve found over dinner (or whenever your family can best have a conversation), so that this becomes an activity you all own, care about, and look forward to.

Read – more, new, different.  Spend time educating your family on the sacrifices made to begin realizing racial justice and equality in the United States (or elsewhere, like South Africa in the post-apartheid struggle).  For the youngest children, here’s a nice list of ten books from Kathleen Cross’s blog, which also model diverse images of beauty our children need to see.

This is the Dream by Diane Z. Shore and Jessica Alexander is perfect for about grade 2 and up – and by up, I mean really up – I showed it to my 16 year old, who also liked it.  The delightful poetic verse along striking illustrations by James Ransome make the harsh realities of institutionalized racism hit home hard.  Then, after a glimpse of courageous civil rights heroes, the picture of the world as we know it today (imperfect but better) depicts a contrast that’s particularly striking. My eight-year old daughter read it over and over again.  Another lovely and inspiring one is Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

There’s a lot to learn and appreciate on this theme.  Many books have been written of excellent quality.  Just go on either of these amazon book pages and scroll down to “customers who bought this item also bought” to find other titles of interest.  Then you can borrow from the library, buy on that site or go to your independent bookseller.

“Meet” more heroes. Beyond learning about Dr. King, I find it’s crucial to teach my children about a wide range of African-American visionaries, scientists, poets, philosophers, and inventors. In one speech Dr. King said, “We’re going to let our children know that the only philosophers that lived were not Plato and Aristotle, but W.E.B. Du Bois and Alain Locke came through the universe.” And beyond Rosa Parks, what about Robert Hayden, Robert Smalls, Ruth Simmons or Wilma Rudolph?

Pray.  If you pray or meditate, include race unity in your thoughts and prayers.  Racism is a spiritual disease, and a simple meditation to keep in mind can be:   “… welcome all with the light of unity.” It is offered in this context:

“The diversity in the human family should be the cause of love and harmony, as it is in music where many different notes blend together in making the perfect chord. If you meet those of different race and color from yourself, do not mistrust them and withdraw into your shell of conventionality, but rather be glad and show them kindness. Think of them as different colored roses growing in the beautiful garden of humanity, and rejoice to be among them.”

James Taylor’s song honoring Dr. King is like a prayer.  Listen and watch here.

Everyday @Home. An important lesson for any family that wishes to raise global citizens, free of prejudice, is to take the lesson home.  Don’t just leave it up to your school to offer all the lessons and experiences around Dr. King and racial justice (even if your school is doing a great job with this lesson).  Actions you take at home send a powerful signal that “this matters to us.”  And kids who grow up marking MLK Day with a parent or family member will cherish the holiday and what it stands for.  They’re the ones who will build the better world we all long for.

Do you have ideas for marking MLK Day? Please share here, or on Growing Up Global’s Facebook Page or Twitter.

Posted in Africa, Barack Obama, Dr. Martin Luther King, Global education, Golden Rule, Holidays, Human Rights, Interfaith, Prejudice | 3 Comments »

Spur the Global Economy – Stay Home and Make a Difference This Thanksgiving

Thursday, December 1st, 2011

(This piece has been featured on the Homepage of ABC’s Million Moms Challenge; with the full text on the blog here, on the Huffington Post, in Global Giving’s news and below.)

Feeling the pressure of tighter consumer spending, giant retailers catering to bargain hunters will open earlier than ever this Black Friday, on Thanksgiving Thursday.  Imagining the stampede of shoppers is enough to give me indigestion, even before I take a bite of turkey.  But it doesn’t have to be that way. My family has found a way to support the global economy by staying home and acquiring nothing – with a game that’s become a tradition.

Right after our Thanksgiving meal, we always play games like Scattergories or watch a classic movie, and now, whoever wishes from our big, opinionated extended family joins in for what has become known as our “Global Giving Game.”   As part of our day of abundant eating and giving thanks, giving back has become part of the routine everyone comes to expect.  Our giving game feels like a continuation of the prayer uttered before the meal – a conscious act uniting far-flung family members that come together for the holiday with each other and with those we’ve never met around the planet.

After about a 3-minute orientation on the GlobalGiving.org website we break into “teams” with about five people in each, depending on how many people have brought laptops.  Each team logs in to the GlobalGiving website and starts discussing various issue areas they might like to support – from democracy to disaster aid to education, maternal health and hunger.  The issues and possibilities can get overwhelming, and we need to accommodate ages ranging from six to ninety, so we deliberately wedge this “game” between dinner and dessert.  We give each team only about twenty minutes to come up with a recommendation that the entire group would then consider and vote on.

As the groups navigate the site, discussions around the computers get richer and more serious.  People were fascinated by the range of innovative programs and were drawn in by the desperate needs all over the world.  I heard the team of little girls talking with one of the grandmothers about what it’s like when there’s no clean water and the day must be spent walking to fetch water for the family instead of going to school, and another “team” discussing the merits of supporting computers in U.S. classrooms versus vaccines for kids in Africa.  Possibly the biggest challenge in the process was to get people to decide on a single project to recommend – they felt the needs were simply too big to narrow down their choices in such a short time.  This itself was a great learning experience.  The first year we were able to narrow it down to one choice between four teams: to support girls’ education in Afghanistan, as this satisfied interests for women’s empowerment, education, health, and U.S. and global security.  The second year we couldn’t narrow to just one, so we supported an education project in the United States , maternal health globally, and water wells at needy schools in Kenya.

Once we make the difficult choice of which project(s) to support, we put a wooden box in the middle of the coffee table for whoever wants to contribute an anonymous donation.  The youngest kids prepare in advance, so they bring their own money set aside from their savings.  It’s always exciting to count the total from our group effort.  We emphasize that this isn’t meant to replace personal philanthropic giving nor to put anyone on the spot, and we won’t pass around a collection box.  Our goal wasn’t to raise big money, but to give everyone a taste of this process.  The first year we raised $197, then, when we counted, my cousin’s 6-year old daughter ran to get her $3 and a brother-in-law gave his promised $0.27 worth to take us to a total of $200.27.

Each year the experience has far surpassed my expectations.  Amidst homemade pecan, pumpkin, key lime, and chocolate mousse pies and my mom’s amazing chocolate-swirled cheesecake, conversations about global issues inevitably continue across generations.  I noticed the next day so many of us had Facebook statuses that were inspired by our little Global Giving Game.

This year, with many of our family members signed on to the Million Moms Challenge, I’m looking forward to seeing what creative solutions we might find, and my now eight-year old and her cousins have already set aside allowance money to bring for the best bargain we might find on Black Friday – the “priceless” gifts of uniting as a family, learning, and making a difference in lives near or far.

The more we learned about the needs of families worldwide, the more we connected, taking to heart the simple fact: we all want to raise healthy babies and kids.

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Posted in Africa, Articles, Food, friends, Giving, Global education, Global Giving, Golden Rule, Holidays, Uncategorized, Women | No Comments »

Spring Is Packed with Sacred Holidays: Here’s What They Teach Us

Monday, April 25th, 2011

I’m often amazed by the convergence of so many important, sacred holidays within the same few weeks of the year.  If a being from a peaceful planet came to earth this week and got a bird’s eye view, I wonder what lessons they would take away from this coming together on the calendar? I doubt they’d take sides – as in “this tradition good, that one is bunk!”  If we hoped they would take away some important lessons from each of the rituals that cause people of diverse convictions to change their routine in honor of something bigger, here are some lessons they might take away:

From Passover (Pesach), the Jewish holiday:  The ritual Seder dinner involving all the senses serves as a parable for and about children, reliving the Exodus of Moses and his loyal believers, embarking on a journey marked by hardship, but ultimately filled with hope and optimism for a brighter future, toward freedom – from oppression, want, and indignity.

From Vaisakhi, the Sikh holiday:  This day marks the establishment of the concept of the Saint-Soldier, whose courage is rooted in standing up for the freedom of any oppressed human being, all of whom are children of the same One Creator, to be treated equally regardless of gender, caste, beliefs.

From Mahavir Jayanti, the Jain holiday: This marks the birth of the last of the Jain prophets who was believed to have conquered all human vice; the sacred holiday serves as a reminder of the qualities of renunciation from materialism, charity, justice, nonviolence and honesty.

From Christian Holy Week, Culminating on Easter Sunday: The suffering of Jesus, dying on the cross followed by His miraculous resurrection, exemplifies Divine grace and humanity’s hope for redemption and renewal, even amidst the worst crises.

From Ugadi (and other names), the New Year for various regions’ Hindus:  This festivity or its variations is celebrated with foods that mark the various tastes of the year to come:  bitter, sweet, sour and fiery, followed by fresh clothes, clean home, visits to loved ones, and symbols of goods’ triumph over evil.  The idea of renewal is coupled with the realities of life’s trials, and hope for goodness as the ultimate victor.

From Theravadin, the Buddhist  New Year (in SE Asia): Renewal is marked by celebratory food, visits to temples, fresh and new items for home and person.  These help begin a new cycle, as in nature.  People also might be splashed with water – amidst revelry – to symbolize a cleansing from past sins.

From Ridvan, the Baha’i holiday:  The Ridvan festival marks Baha’u’llah’s publicly announcing His sacred mission centered in the realization of the Oneness of Humanity, justice, and a renewal God’s purpose for humanity to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization.  It is symbolized by roses, as thousands were brought to honor Baha’u’llah prior to His embarking on yet another journey in His long exile.

Earth Day also falls right around these holy days, marking a common stewardship of the planet across all faiths and traditions.

I could not find an Islamic holiday falling in April.  Perhaps this could have special significance for Muslims, particularly those in the Middle East and North Africa.  As the last few months have been called the “Arab Spring,” this could serve as an especially poignant reminder – a time to gather the lessons of the ages to build hopeful democracies:  consider the lessons of Freedom, Renewal, Resurrection, Redemption, Liberation and Justice that all the world’s faiths encourage us to realize.  Perhaps taken together, this vision of a world in celebration this spring could bring us closer to the ideals we all hope for.  It certainly makes for important lessons to teach our children.

(A version of this appeared on GOOD.)

 

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A Different Take on Michelle Obama’s Spain Vacation

Monday, August 16th, 2010

My family and I have just returned from  an unforgettable vacation, which, given the firestorm in the U.S. press, I’m a little embarrassed to admit, and feel I need to justify:  We went to Spain – at the same time as Michelle and Sasha Obama and girlfriends, and to many of the same spots (though in different lodgings).  It was my husband and my 20th Wedding Anniversary, and to save for this trip we set aside an amount from paychecks each month for a Travel Fund to make it possible.  I’m well aware this remains an incredible privilege on many levels, but I felt compelled to share what Mrs. Obama’s trip looked like from the perspective “over there.”

As many are aware, Spain, known for gorgeous landscapes, beaches and soccer players, seductive flamenco, fine art and architecture is also marked by a millennium of outright racism, ethnic cleansing, and stark brutality, well into the 20th Century.  With democracy opening in the country since 1975, it is now celebrated as a vibrant center of art and soul and beauty and relaxation – but nowhere is perfect.  Friends of ours who have resettled into Spain bemoaned the surprising levels of bias voiced openly against anyone not Catholic and fair-skinned.  While historically rich and gorgeous cities like Toledo, Seville and Granada flourished thanks to the peaceful coexistence of Jews, Muslims and Catholics for as much as seven hundred years, long Holy Wars, the Inquisition, Civil War, and dictatorship have left bitter remainders of prejudice in too many hearts and minds and institutions.

So, I found the on-the-ground response to Mrs. Obama’s visit to Southern Spain quite remarkable.  As we drove through the nearby countryside, radio stations eagerly reported everything from tips on how crowds could fight the heat while waiting hours to catch a glimpse of the First Lady’s visit at a nearby Cathedral, to Sasha’s favorite ice cream flavor ordered earlier that day at a popular shop.  It was as if the dignity of this strong, stylish, smart, black American woman, mother, professional and leader captured the highest ideals of their nation and might even help them atone for their past sins and present economic woes.

Spanish Crowds Wave American Flags

Deliberate or not, Mrs. Obama’s itinerary (which I gathered from the local radio reports) seemed to mock anyone clinging to old prejudices:  In one city she visited the main Cathedral first, then went to the 11th Century Moorish (Muslim) palace.  That same day the group also ventured up to the caves of the Gypsies, where traditional local music has been performed for centuries.   The glossy magazine Hola! (think People magazine obsessed with the royal families of Europe) covered Mrs. Obama’s trip, including the visit to the Gypsies, one of the most continuously reviled, marginalized minority groups on the continent, and certainly not among the glamorized set.  Photos show her clapping and enjoying the flamenco folklore, and might be one of the first instances of the culture shown in a positive light among the magazine’s glitterati.  The constant, enthusiastic news reports about the Obama visit in Spanish media carried a strong message between the lines:  these Americans come in all colors, interests, and backgrounds.  They can show us how to value our own minorities and marginalized.  This is what makes them so awesome.  We are their friends.  We want to be like them.  They respect us and value our cultural contributions, as we value theirs.

Mrs. Obama with gypsies of Granada, Spain

I wish Mrs. Obama’s trip would have cost zero taxpayer dollars, but the reality is that anywhere the First Lady travels she’ll need Secret Service and a private plane.  They can’t stay at a youth hostel, or squeeze their towels like sardines on the packed Mediterranean beach.  As I read some of the Twitterati’s criticism, beyond the cost, it seemed that the very act of taking her daughter off American soil and (gasp!) enjoying this experience denoted a cardinal sin.  Giving her daughter the gift of foreign travel is a priceless privilege, made particularly sweet by the joy and wonder that comes with Sasha’s young age.  Travelling outside our borders can become a goal for any family or child, as a uniquely enriching, attainable, affordable experience (particularly through scholarships for youth, like those offered by Rotary International and NSLI-Y, or exchanges like AFS; click here for more ideas on raising children with a global perspective even without travel).

If any American travelling abroad instantly serves as an informal cultural ambassador, the First Family’s visit certainly had an impact beyond fun.  In April 2004 Spain withdrew troops from the Coalition of the Willing fighting in Iraq, amidst an overwhelming wave of anti-American, anti-war feeling.  The presence of Mrs. Obama and the pride for the USA evoked by her image and visit among the Spanish and Europe in general is helping steer sentiment back in a positive direction toward America.  The price to pay for stronger alliances, customers for American products, and good-will is certainly worth a few nights in a five-star hotel or missing her husband’s birthday dinner one year.

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Posted in Barack Obama, Flexibility, friends, Holidays, Michelle Obama, Prejudice, Spain, Women | 1 Comment »

When Holidays Converge – A Teachable Moment (cross-posted at www.momsrising.org)

Monday, April 5th, 2010

I breathe a sigh of relief today as my children return to school from Spring Break and our routines resume.  Before the hectic pace kicks in, though, it’s worth considering the confluence of events that just took place.  President Obama’s weekly address to the nation recognized this – “to call on people of all faiths and nonbelievers to remember our shared spirit of humanity. All people know the value of work, health, education, and community. This week is a time to be mindful of this common bond which is at the heart of all the world’s great religions.”

The Golden Rule expressed by the world's faithsThe Golden Rule expressed by the world’s faiths

available from interfaithresources.com

I’m struck that the President exhorted Americans this week “to be mindful.”  The big, tough, divisive issues aren’t going away anytime soon.  But as parents who want better for our children, one of the best things we can do is “to be mindful” and try to introduce as much peace in their turbulent lives as we can.  We can talk about the convergence of holidays over the past few days – whether we celebrated an Easter mass, hid plastic eggs, shared a Seder, rejoiced for the final day of eating Matzo, shared a picnic for the last day in the ancient Iranian rite of Spring, cheered at a regatta, survived an earthquake, or dusted off a bicycle.  This conversation recognizes differences.  It also gives a sense of belonging – to a human family.  Talking with our children around concepts that don’t fit so neatly in one little box, but begin to touch on issues like unity, diversity, respect, grace, devotion, and tradition help equip them more capably as actors in a vibrant democracy.  Likewise, exploring The Golden Rule as expressed in various faiths helps show that at the root, we share basic values.  These conversations can help them gain a better sense of their own identity; so questions like “who am I and why am I here?” can be explored by thinking about “who are they and why do they think they are here?”

The convergence of multiple holidays serves as a teachable moment, to launch an on-going exploration of what matters with our kids.  So, take a deep breath, be mindful, and talk about it – even as the busy-ness of life creeps in again.

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