How to keep going when things fall apart
Kids need something to rail against, and it might as well be an oligarchy of tech jerks instead of them tryin’ to fight us for daring to serve them kale.
Fighting the current administration was not the job we signed up for when we had kids, and yet, it’s the job we’ve found ourselves with
By now, most of us have realized there will be no quick ending to our irritation, frustration, and despair as the attacks on our communities keep coming. Things are awful, and they’re gonna get awful…ler.
And yet, ugh - why do we have to be the ones to turn this shit around! We’re tired and the kid is home sick and they abducted my friend’s coworker and the cat barfed on the nice rug and also we’re sad because our favorite tiktok crab died and our kids are in danger and we’re scared to leave home and we’re making less money but everything costs more and we’re pretty sure we’re being surveilled and also none of our jeans fit but also they’re coming for us where we live!
(ok let’s just take a deep breath and collect ourselves!)
So how do we keep fighting despite feeling beaten, scared, and powerless?
I don’t like to think about it - buuuut the truth is that irritation, frustration, and despair are the sparks that kids need to cultivate determination, tenacity, and resilience. My kids need something to rail against, and it might as well be an oligarchy of tech jerks instead of them tryin’ to fight me for daring to serve them kale.
So instead of plugging our ears and hiding, lying to our kids that things are fine, it’s fine! Nothing will happen and IT’S ALL GONNA BE FINE!…
…It’s time to do the scary, hard thing, and turn toward the pain. Getting honest with our kids about how we keep going - even when we’re hurting - is how we ignite the next generation of curious, kind, and courageous kiddos.
Find everything you need to start transforming overwhelm into tenacity
If you or your kiddos are feeling powerless about the US regime’s attacks on trans kids, immigrants, Palestinians, libraries, educators, pregnant people…and, well, EVERYBODY - how do you keep from running yourself ragged until you self-implode?
Help your kids reclaim their power and strengthen their determination without giving them false hope.
Make Your Own Daruma Doll
Ages 5+
Create your own Daruma doll & discuss how the Japanese proverb 'Fall down 7 times, get up 8' has impacted Japanese American culture and resilience from WWII internment through modern US sinophobia.
Check out the full toolkit for more hands-on activities for kids to internalize a sense of tenacious (and dare I say, playful!) determination.
Spring Support Calls for Overwhelmed Caregivers
You’re caring for everybody right now, and I’m concerned - who is caring for you?
So I’m opening a limited number of Luminary Braintrust Ignition Call sessions to our public newsletter subscribers (that’s you).
These support calls are free, and spots fill up fast, so if you’d like someone to help you detangle the challenges of parenting & activism responsibilities pulling you in too many directions, reach out!
Not sure if you ‘qualify’ or if it’s worth scheduling a time to chat? Learn more about what I’m happy to help you with (and what you should save for other spaces.)
Coming Up Next
I’ll either skip next week’s newsletter or I’ll send you another toolkit - depends on how chaotic things get at home with the kids before spring break.
Meanwhile - I know your plate is full, but our coalition partners at #DropTheADLfromSchools* need your help supporting K-12 educators facing an orchestrated censorship campaign. If you’d like to support your educators, please sign our petition telling education leaders to stop targeting, censoring,and attacking our teachers.
(*If you want to argue with me about how YOUR school’s ADL programs make you feel like a good white ally, but can’t be bothered to read the letter on [one of many reasons] why I endorse dropping the ADL, and my dear friend Nora Lester Murad’s article explaining how the conservative ADL silences Jewish students and real DEI programming in schools - don’t. Just unsubscribe.)