Dear Ones,
One of my favorite neighborhood walks is through a tiny historic cemetery, where holiday-specific grave décor helps mark the time of year. In honor of Memorial Day, American flags have already popped up at the gravesites of US military who died while serving.
Whether or not you and your loved ones mark Memorial Day with traditional observance, this might be a season where parents and other caregivers find themselves in the position of wanting to have frank, kind conversations with their young people about war-making and how to live in a world that contains violence.
Common Sense Media has tips about how to talk with kids about violence, crime, war, and tragedy and even just how to explain the news to young ones.
Sometimes, too, digging deeper into history can be a helpful strategy. Did you know Memorial Day was first commemorated after the Civil War by a group of African Americans who dug hundreds of their comrades out of a mass Confederate grave so the dead could be honored with proper burial? Even young kids might appreciate learning about what was originally known as Decoration Day through quotes, photos, and a documentary clip.
Since I'm the kind of unspeakably cruel mother who forces my precious children to occasionally take family walks, I like to be prepared for what might come up conversationally, whether we're wandering through a graveyard or elsewhere. This year I'm going to take a moment to review these links because, even as my kids get older, I can always use a chance to reflect on how I want to talk about what matters.
With love,
Rev. Leah
