I Have a Dream
Today is Martin Luther King Day. The day Americans observe Martin Luther King, Jr’s birthday. This year, the holiday even landed on January 15th, his real birthday. King was a great man who made great strides in the civil rights movement. I wish I knew him and I wish I could have heard his “I Have a Dream” speech in person.
Like King, I also have a dream that my children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. Before I actually had kids (that’s right, I carried my three kids in my womb for nine months and gave birth to them), that dream was at or near the top of my list. Now that I do have children, I can’t honestly say equality is at the top of my list of dreams.
I obviously don’t want my kids to be singled out or left out because of the color of their skin (or because of their gender). But now, I have a lot of other concerns. I worry constantly about my children, think about their future, and have all sorts of dreams for them. Here are some of those dreams. They are in no particular order.
I have a dream that my children live a long and full life. I would be devastated if they left this world during my lifetime.
I want my children to feel loved and for them to love us forever and ever. I want them to feel this way even after we have disciplined them for doing something bad, like sitting on baby’s head.
I hope my children will meet and marry their soul mate, become good parents, and love their children. And I wouldn’t mind if the grandchildren torment their parents in the same way that our kids have tormented us.
I have a dream that my children will know right from wrong and choose to be good people. They don’t have to be saints, but I wouldn’t want them to be serial monkeynappers either.
I hope nothing bad will happen to my kids, like being kidnapped. With my son’s “play and talk with anyone” personality, kidnapping is a real possibility. However, because my friendly son is actually a monster in disguised, I expect the kidnapper to return him to me within a day…perhaps even paying me to take him back.
I have a dream that my kids will love each other and will be there for each other when mommy and daddy are no longer around.
I wish happiness for my kids, especially during their childhood. Growing up isn’t easy. I hope my kids will be well adjusted and make lifelong friends during their journey to adulthood.
I hope my kids do well in school. They don’t have to be geniuses, but they should know more than just ABC. In my son’s case, knowing D through Z would be nice.
Of course, I also have a dream that my children will live in a time when they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by their character. Just as importantly, I hope my kids will at least get to know someone before they judge them. Ideally, my kids wouldn’t judge people at all and accept them for who they are…unless the people being judged are evil monkeynappers. In that situation, by all means judge them and place the Forever curse upon them.
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It’s amazing how parenthhood shifts your priorities and makes you realize what’s really important. Before I had Julia, I questioned a lot of things about what I believed and what was right. After I had her, it seemed like those things were suddenly very clear.
This is a wonderful post. I wish the same things for my daughter.
This is a beautiful post from the heart. I am sure your children will be moved when you read this to them.
That is a wish that I am sure all parents have.
Heartfelt.
Keep smilin!
Those are great dreams, and I share those dreams with you. I hope we actually see that day.
Those were beautiful dreams for your children. I hope they grow up and follow them.
“I’ll always choose my socks by their color and their friends by their character.”
Amen.
*”…my friends by their character.”*
Wow, that really moved me a lot. It is perfect writing, and I loved it. :)
Great post, and a wonderfully unique way of paying tribute to Dr. King.
Awwwwww, I love it. I have no doubt that your children will grow up to be intelligent, humorous, and loving people. Their parents are wonderful role models!
(Well, except for that whole sex change rumor scandal. That was perhaps not the best example of how to achieve marital harmony…)
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[...] Daddy Forever started visiting me a few months ago, and his comments never fail to make me laugh. His poor long-suffering wife could probably tell you some awesome stories about this man, but in all honesty, he does a pretty good job of that himself. I love his perspective on things and his near-devilish sense of humor. When I read his blog entry commemorating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, I was especially moved. Here is this person that usually has me in stitches talking about his family’s antics, expressing his idealistic dreams and how they’ve changed since the addition of children to his life. I have to say, I even got a little misty as I read about his hopes. I think it’ll move you too. [...]
Great post. This award went to the right person.
What a beautiful post!
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