March 27, 2013

In my experience, one of the most rewarding and magical things about parenting is the lessons I learn and the perspective I gain through a child’s eyes as we grow together.

The greatest challenge for me, as a parent, is instilling values and shaping beings that will one day positively contribute to society as it evolves… with those lessons in mind and their innocence maintained. Not to close a mind but to open a door to the future.

My children remind me daily that I haven’t seen life from every angle yet, and I should never give up on trying to ‘think’ it differently. Never stop trying to BE the difference. Make the change!

Lorelei noticed my brilliant rainbow cover photo when I left my Facebook open on my phone one morning. She loves rainbows—she always has. As an infant, she was magnetically drawn to the most brilliantly colored toys and teethers, and her bedroom soon became a collection of her favorite things in a full broad color spectrum as she grew. She has such a brilliant spirit, and her antics and revelations are equally colorful. She is a true rainbow child.

She read the quote, “What is straight? A line can be straight, or a street, but the human heart, oh, no, it’s curved like a road through mountains.” (Tennessee Williams – A Streetcar Named Desire) and exclaimed, “Mama, that’s true, and the heart is curved just like a rainbow too!”

I agreed. Then she said, “Rainbows are so beautiful because they have all the colors you can see together. I like how they’re all fuzzy into each other and how sometimes they are upside down, and sometimes there are two. Some reach all the way to the ground on both sides, some are just little pieces that got broken off, and some only come out when the sprinkler is on. It’s always a surprise when you see them, and they are all different but soooo beautiful.”

Then she looked concerned, “What about the people that can’t see the rainbows? I think they must be sad all the time.”

She literally started to cry. I asked, “What’s wrong Bella?!” Through tears she responded, “I feel so sad for the people that can’t see and love rainbows too.”

I tried to take a very literal approach and reassuringly explained that people who are just color blind, or even legally blind, are still very happy people and have other things they love that bring them as much joy as rainbows bring her. Very seriously she said, “No, mama… I’m talking about the people who just can’t see how beautiful they are. They just don’t see RAINBOWS.”

Then I felt a little sad too.

Kaydenc interrupted by asking about my profile picture. “It’s time.” “For what?”

This spun off into a brief conversation on the drive to school about the historical significance of the fight for marriage equality happening right now.

As we pulled into the school parking lot, Kaydenc said, “I just don’t understand why grownups want to make laws stopping love but not hate.”

I realized aloud, “Not all grownups, just the ones that cannot see rainbows.”

Maybe our leaders need a presentation from the next generation on LOVE.

It is time that world leaders see rainbows! and not just for their figurative representation of marriage equality but for the sheer fact that the world is not black and white. It is full of color! People are as different and vibrant as the human capacity to discern one hue from another… and yet, when merged with love, they make the most beautiful display of harmony and hope—a promise of something better to come.

IT IS TIME.