I’ve wrapped up a BIG project – the draft manuscript for The K-5 Global Education Toolkit (with my wonderful co-author, Becky Morales, www.kidworldcitizen.org).  Yippee. Yay. Sigh of relief. Trepidation…  Now I’m turning my attention to the big trip I’m taking tonight with “Tiny Dancer,” aka “the tiny one,” aka Soph Soph, aka the almost-10 y.o. 4th grader who was just a pre-schooler when I was writing Growing Up Global, Sophia.  I will be visiting two international schools while there (not disclosing their names yet, as I need to make sure they are ok with that!), speaking to an audience of parents, and last, but not least, attending a wedding extravaganza for my dear cousin’s daughter who is getting married on May 17, which also is the 50th wedding anniversary of my parents.  Yes, I am feeling a sensory overload!

So, the packing is a bit complicated.  The actual wedding calls for not one, but TWO “gowns” – a short one for the ceremony and a long one for the party which will probably go all night.  My understanding is that we will attend the ceremony then go back to our hotels for a nap and change of clothes, to return to the party a few hours later.  This is the sort of wedding party where dinner is served probably between 11 pm -12 midnight and children are most definitely welcome!  I’m also packing two more long dresses “just in case,” one for my sister who is meeting us from Berlin (can’t wait to see you!).  And the shoes and other accessories to go with each. Then there’s what to wear during the daytime, accounting for cultural sensitivity (but not too much, I am told, for Dubai); and what to wear in the evenings, which will mostly be comprised of dinners for the bride and groom, hosted by various family members.

I have a large duffel bag filled with copies of my book, to take to my talks. It was too complicated to try to order the books to arrive in Dubai on time, so I will be schlepping them across the planet — of course, isn’t that what every author would do?!?!?

Another important thing I am packing: a notarized letter from my dear husband, attesting that I am not kidnapping Sophia and he has our blessing to travel without him.  Parents: if one of you is taking the kids ANYWHERE on a plane, domestic or international, you need one of these.

All the packing of items for different categories of activity make this trip even more exciting to me. I am so grateful to be able to combine these elements — global education and family celebration — in one action-packed week!

Stay tuned for more updates (and follow my Twitter and Facebook for more frequent posts).

As I browsed through social media today (after a sort of hiatus for Mother’s Day), two posts struck me:

This photo, allegedly of a little Iraqi girl laying in the arms of the chalk mother she drew on the ground, the mother she has never met, but loves deeply:

And this article by Vargha Taefi, called The Anguish of Separation, a title which conveys the emotion this loving son feels as his mother is locked away in a tiny, dark,  damp Iranian prison, having already served five years of a baseless 20-year sentence. He knows her health is severely deteriorating, but her spirits hang on to something deeper and stronger. This keeps her going and it keeps him going amidst false charges and glaring injustice.  His emotions straddle the big picture — a regime’s repressive policies toward a minority group — along with the molecular, conveying personal anxieties felt by children everywhere:

For a very long time my nightmare has not been of the past but of slowly losing memories of my mother.

I reassure myself that in the absence of my mother, at least her loving company can be bestowed on inmates who do not have their own mothers or sisters with them.

So, on this day-after Mother’s Day, here’s to the motherless children and the children who can’t see their mothers because so many in power still have it so wrong. Here’s also to so many mothers who are returning to low-wage jobs that barely feed their children, who can’t afford childcare facilities they feel right about, who might be fleeing violence, and so many countless other cruelties that keep too many on the margins or far away from their beloved children.

By acknowledging these realities, I don’t believe I am taking away from the joy that I felt with my own mother and my children on Mother’s Day. In fact, I feel as if I honor my blessings by the act of remembering the invisible mothers.  If I can contribute any deeds, words or finances on behalf of any of these mothers anywhere, I hope this helps bring them toward visibility, toward the light, and a hearty hug from a child that loves them deeply.

I’ve been reflecting on how relationship with our children comprises a profoundly spiritual experience. Though love and awe are independent from the material world, their presence is real and true. I’m at my best when I approach parenting from this mindful place.  But it isn’t always so easy to get to that place – amidst the big and little curveballs life throws at us (!?!).

with my mother and daughter, celebrating Spring's arrival

I am a world citizen. Humanity is one. No one life is more important than another, and there are acts of brutality, terrorism and war occurring everywhere in the world, every day. I am aware of this and I feel compassion for the suffering that the people of this world are going through, every day. However, this week, it is happening in my home, in the city of my birth, where I live and work, starting with an attack on a beautiful, diverse global event. Friends of mine, including a little boy, were meters away and narrowly escaped injury. About one million of us in the Boston area are on lockdown this morning. This (and much, much worse) is what many people go through as part of their daily life. I think, however, that any one of us would discuss it with great concern and attention if it was happening in our own home. It is possible to do both – to feel compassion for attacks on innocent people around the world, and concern for those near you – and at the same time to refuse to make violence and the loss of life into a competition, or a game of moral equivalency.

Earlier in the week, just after the media turned all it’s attention on the shocking developments in Boston, I was seeing angry posts on social media, that US media ignores the tragedies playing out in other parts of the planet.  I responded via Twitter:

Rather than curse myopic media, I’m grateful (& sad) #Boston tragedy also shines light on 4/15 bombings in Iraq & Afghanistan. #oneworld

And also:

Tragedy on a grand scale far away doesn’t take away from real concern, sadness, anger that rush out when we #prayforBoston.

I believe our hearts have the capacity to care about what takes place near and far. This is not a zero-sum game.

As news about the suspects in the Boston marathon bombings and the horrific crime wave later in the same week emerge, we will see more and more connections between a conflict that has been raging far away, in Chechnya, that few Americans paid attention to, and what is happening much closer to home for many of us, in a city and region that hosts more university students than any other — a place filled with intellectual attainment, creative breakthroughs, where people are continually making new friends from near and far, and where trusting parents from all over the world send their bright children.

Just as Bostonians’ grit and determination won’t be deterred as they plan a bigger and better marathon next year, let’s resolve to not let the fury that might have sparked last week’s horror turn us against compassion and connection.  We need these now more than ever. Peace.

Photo credit: washingtonpost.com

1. European Mama’s wonderful list of Polish traditions
2. The Educators’ Spin On It introduces us to the Spring holiday of Holi
3. Expat 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. Leanna, 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?

Mike, a former CNN cameraman, wrote on his Facebook wall:

Sitting in an anteroom inside #10 Downing Street, early 1990, waiting to shoot a photo-op for the U.S. networks pool, a door opens and someone walks in, carrying a silver tea service. “So sorry for the delay; we’re running a bit behind schedule,” one of the most famous voices in the world said. “We shan’t be much longer. Would you like some tea while you wait?” asked Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
Completely stunned, I stammered, “Thank you, Madame Prime Minister .” The Iron Lady smiled and said, “Not a ‘tall. Welcome to Number Ten.” My Lebanese sound man, Abed Itani, was speechless.

This anecdote offers a great jumping off point for a discussion with children, probably about age 10 and up.  We can discuss how women around the world have taken powerful leadership positions, well before what we’ve seen in the US. But just because a woman is in power, that doesn’t mean she fits neat generalizations about “soft,” “feminine,” “pacifist” leadership styles we might assign to women.  A conversation can explore: How did Maggie Thatcher defy that? What were some of her positive (or negative) qualities? What is her legacy in the UK? Why is she still such a controversial figure?

RIP to a trailblazer, whatever your opinion of her…

Nowruz is the primary holiday for Persians, and it is the only holiday celebrated by all Persians, of every religious background, whether Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Zoroastrian, Baha’i or of no religion.

(To read the entire story, click here:  Happy Nowruz to All!)

If you’re in the Palo Alto, CA vicinity on Thursday, March 7, please consider joining me for a discussion on raising global kids and Growing Up Global!  This is free and open to the public, with book signing and international treats from the PTA to follow.  Thanks to the great community at Ohlone Elementary in Palo Alto for your terrific organization!

Here’s a link to the flyer:  Palo Alto Ohlone Flyer

And here’s the text info:

Thursday, March 7, 2013, 7:00-9:00pm
Ohlone School MP Room – Address: 950 Amarillo Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94303
7pm Presentation, 8:30 Book signing and global treats

In this highly interactive presentation, Homa Tavangar, author of
the acclaimed Growing Up Global: Raising Children to Be At Home
in the World (Random House) will share some of her learning and
best practices around educating responsive, resilient, curious,
creative, kind, compassionate global citizens. Take away fun,
simple ideas for instilling an appreciation of cultures and global
perspectives on a daily basis, conversation prompts, and thoughts
on making a dierence, near or far – starting with what you love.
Brought to you by Global Awareness Week, a program of the Ohlone PTA

March 11, 2013

Global Education “How-To’s” to Foster World-Class Learning
Workshop # 2-53,  11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Presenter: Homa Tavangar, Growing Up Global

In this highly interactive workshop based on nine years of research, writing, speaking and two decades working with diverse groups across the country, Homa Tavangar, author of the acclaimed Growing Up Global: Raising Children to Be At Home in the World will share best practices around educating responsive, resilient, curious, creative, kind, compassionate global citizens – true “world-class learners”. Participants will leave the session with tangible ideas for globalizing their classrooms. She also will share new materials from her chapter, “Growing Up in a Global Classroom” in Heidi Hayes-Jacobs, ed. forthcoming book, and Homa’s new book, The K-5 Global Education Toolkit.

(The link to the entire program is found here.)

Through the journey of one family’s incredible, heart-wrenching sacrifices that the Times has been tracking for seven years, the piece showed how millions of Chinese sacrifice heavily for their children’s education.  The reality is that as graduates saturate the job market, the security they seek is increasingly elusive.  The story was sad, sobering, and a sense of overwhelming injustice pervaded my thoughts, as I read how rigged against less privileged families the bounties of education can be for hundreds of millions of young Chinese from poor families.  Bradsher also compared costs of U.S. college for families that must sacrifice to send their children on for higher education, to get a sense of relative terms.

As I was processing the overwhelming odds against students like Wu Caoying, I continued to read and turned to the next page, with the photo of the family, some text, and then a half-page ad for a luxury hotel in South Beach, Miami. The ultimate in pleasure and privilege.  I just gasped at this and had to share. ….The irony of it!  I think it also makes for great discussion fodder for high school and college students to consider:

• What are the sacrifices their own families have made to get them to where they are, and ensure an education for them?
• What do they think their own prospects for education helping them to “get ahead” might be?
• What do they think about this juxtaposition of images – both contemporary and both reflecting either the realities or aspirations of large swaths of the world’s populations.
• In the context of the Chinese family, and then the imaginary frolickers at the Hotel Fountainbleu, what does the word “deserving” conjure in your mind? Does learning the story of the family in the NYT piece impact your idea of “deserving”?
• What might the juxtaposition of these images say about scarcity or abundance of the earth’s resources?

page A15 New York Times Sunday, February 17, 2013