Dear parents,

In S3 of Parenting in the Trenches, we're taking a look at tough but important conversations we need to be having with our kids - both for their own welfare and in support of the wellbeing of our relationships with others. It's tempting to shy away from topics that we don't feel fully educated about and have a big impact, for fear we'll get it wrong. This is the very reason I'm including this series. I want to invite you to get it wrong with me and not stay stuck there. I want you to bravely step into what can feel like dangerous territory, and know your tribe is with you. Let's ask ourselves some hard questions, trusting that it's in the best interest of our kids to do so. In the end, it'll better equip us for raising kids who think critically and love themselves and others fiercely.

E1 tackles how we raise kids with a strong awareness of racial injustice and engage in the work ourselves - both in our homes and in our communities.  For lasting change to happen, we must have ongoing conversations with our kids about what racism looks like, the impact it has, and how to change it - in ourselves and in our systems. You can't start too young. If you feel stuck about where to begin, listen to Parker Johnson's wisdom in today's episode and check out these resources:

Recommended online courses:
Intentional Activism by Ivirlei Brookes, for those who are non-BIPOC
Learning to have uncomfortable conversations about race (Canada-based) with Salem Debs

Check out Parker Johnson's This is Table Talk site to learn more about his incredible work.

Recommended podcasts: Parenting Decolonized
Good Ancestor
and podcasts for kids, A Kids Book About...

Recommended reading:
So You Want To Talk About Race, by Ijeoma Oluo
White Fragility, by Robert Diangelo
How to be an Anti-racist, by Ibram X. Kendi
Me & White Supremacy, by Layla F. Saad
The Skin We're In, by Desmond Cole

Reading for Youth/YA:
The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas
All American Boys, by Jason Reynolds & Brendan Kiely

Reading for kids:
Race Cars: a children's book about white privilege, by Jenny Devenny
A Kid's Book About Racism, by Jelani Memory
Anti-Racist Baby picture book, by Ibram X. Kendi & Ashley Lukashevsky

May WE learn to do better. Every. Single. Day.
Thank you for showing up,
Karen