“It’s easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” Frederick Douglass
Let’s face it. Not all of us grew up with rosy childhoods; some children never had the opportunities to share in memories of such idyllic lives, no long days of summer for them, of swimming with friends at the local swimming hole, or eating fresh picked cherries and falling asleep on mom or dad’s laps.
They grew up in times of adversity, or suffered diseases and hardships, war and abuse.
Helen Keller grew up in a silent and unreachable world, both deaf and blind, how did she learn to break through the confines of her protective shell to communicate and share feelings, and most importantly, teach us the valuable lessons of love?
Harriet Tubman heeded the call of freedom for all slaves, and risked her own life to ensure their safe release from the chains of bondage.
A little Japanese girl faces the challenge of a lifetime after a diagnosis of a life-threatening illness.
For your little history buff, have them read about two young children growing up in Nazi Germany, one who was taken to Auschwitz, the other growing up through the Nazi party system, in the book, “Parallel Journeys”.
Plenty.
When you teach your child the act of empathy and respect through the lives of others, it plants seeds of kindness and eventually wisdom. And don’t we all want wise children?