Haiti and My Children
The Haiti earthquake was an opportunity to teach my children to see beyond their own world. When the earthquake struck in Haiti this year, the outpouring of support was unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Immediately, there were collection jars everywhere I went. My children, 10 and 7, came home shouting “We need money to give to Haiti!” We gave and gave to various organizations collecting money for Haiti – for weeks after the quake, it was all eyes on Haiti. And now when the calls for help have stopped, my children are keeping the story alive by asking about the people in Haiti – how are they doing and where are they living now? Getting kids involved in world events and giving them opportunities to see outside their small bubble is a gift that keeps on giving. Most of the TV cameras and reporters have long been gone and only tiny bits of information are reported about the people in Haiti, but for us, the lasting impression of lives destroyed hangs in the air. The earthquake changed my children’s awareness of the news and current events. They have started reading the newspaper and listening to the radio with a more keen interest in local and national events. The earthquake in Haiti shook the lives of many, and in my small corner of the world it has awakened my kids to the worlds beyond our neighborhood – it was a transforming event. blog comments powered by Disqus
