Compassion

Me and my nine year old daughter Kaia have something in common.

We both like Sardines...

Yes I know, not the bombshell you were expecting, but let me explain. Kaia asked me to buy Sardines while we were out shopping last night. This morning she wanted them for breakfast but I had already fixed her breakfast and suggested she take them to school for lunch.

Kaia was genuinely worried about the other kids thinking she was 'weird' for liking sardines. I sent them with her, but also a peanut butter sandwich, so she could make the most comfortable choice for herself. I sincerely hope she eats the sardines.

I have tried the entire time I've been a parent to instill in my children a high level of compassion and tolerance. To not fear the man in the wheelchair with the amputated leg, the little boy with scars on his face because he was burned in a fire, the person of a different race, culture, religion, or sexual orientation.

So it upsets me that my daughter should fear bringing an unusual food to school because she would be picked on for eating it. Shame on parents who cannot be bothered to teach their child compassion, yet would expect retribution to anyone who picked on THEIR child!

People need to wake up, look at the global melting pot society we ALL live in and learn to respect, try to understand and have compassion for all the unique, amazing people we have in this world.

So I will proudly eat my sardines, sushi, and anything else that anyone else thinks is gross, and I just won't care. I just hope I can teach my daughter to do the same!

Okay, off my soapbox now!