I’ve been thinking lately about how ordinary people like minister and activist Martin Luther King Jr., former President Barack Obama, or the first female Black Asian American Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, have done extraordinary things with their lives. They literally changed the course of the world. Those leaders were all birthed by mothers.
Without their moms, there would be no them.
That is truly powerful to think about. Not only did their mothers birth them, but they cultivated and nurtured their gifts to help them be extraordinary humans. What a responsibility. There’s a quote that says, “Parenting is one of the most powerful forms of activism we can use to transform the world.” Activism starts in our home, with us and our children.
I always say if you want to change the world, start at home. Parenting is not something to take lightly. We must be intentional. Our children’s futures are what’s at stake here.
Here is what we as parents can do to help make this world a better place:
Acknowledge There Is a Problem.
You cannot solve what you do not acknowledge. If something important to you is broken, acknowledge it and determine why said problem matters to you and your family. “Nothing can be changed until it is faced.” – James Baldwin
Take Small Steps to Help.
Everyone can do something to help. It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture. As Martin Luther King said, “If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.”
We usually tell our kids to advocate or help their friends; this is our chance to teach them by example. You can teach your kids to be kind, donate your time, recycle, advocate for marginalized groups, etc. What can you do specific to you and your family that will continue to help change the world? One day at a time. Small changes can make a big impact.
Spread the Word.
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter.” -Martin Luther King Jr.
When you are passionate about something, usually those around you know about it. You just can’t help but share it because it’s important to you. Let others know about your initiatives and how they can help, too. This will teach your child not to be ashamed of sharing things they care about.
This can start a chain reaction and families everywhere can start making small changes to help, which will later lead to a greater impact on the world.
That’s it! Those are three things you can start doing today to help make the world a better place. Ordinary people can do extraordinary things. You can change the world starting with yourself and inside your home.
We hug the future in our homes every night before they go sleep. We see the world-changer in the mirror every day. It’s that simple. Let’s stop pointing the finger at everyone else and do what needs to be done in our homes first
We can do it… together.
Remember, “The time is always right to do what is right.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
