Celebrate Pride with your child as a Decolonized Parent

Pride month is here in the US. Let’s celebrate Pride with your child as a decolonized parent.

For me, Pride is about reclaiming all of who I am so that I can stand in the light of my own truth…with my chosen family and community.

As a decolonized parent, you might have already noticed some parallels between LGBTQIA+ advocacy and your practice of social justice parenting and inner child wound healing.

All of these practices are about integrating something fragmented by oppression and injustice into a coherent whole.

As a decolonized parent, you may have parts of you that were too much or not enough for both your caregivers and systemic oppression (white supremacy, capitalism, colonialism, and patriarchy).

Which of those parts of you that your caregivers and systemic oppression didn’t accept or approve of are you reconnecting with and reclaiming?

For me I’ve been reclaiming my voice by choosing to speak truth with love over the comfort of conforming to oppressive status quo. Ruffling some feathers compassionately is a cute look for me.

How about for you?

Whenever you’re ready, let’s shift focus and talk a bit about some ways to celebrate pride with your child.

Toddlers and preschoolers beam up when they “help” you with tasks around the house even though they often add an extra 30 minutes to the chore.

Or they might show how proud they are verbally and nonverbally when they knock their block tower down, feed their baby stuffed animal in their pretend play, or roll their wheelchair super fast…

Or…when they draw a crayon masterpiece on your freshly painted wall (oops).

Needless to say, toddlers and preschoolers take so much pride in their physical abilities.

You may have already balanced your child’s focus on physical abilities with social-emotional learning.

“I know you feel so proud climbing the monkey bars. How about when you hugged your sister when she fell down? You made her feel so loved. That’s something to be proud of too.”

How have you been helping your child feel proud of both their physical and social emotional skills?

With pride in what they know they’re good at, young children also show frustration at things they’re not quite good at YET.

How have you been helping your child feel proud of their efforts and persistence?

Lastly, how have you been extra intentional about highlighting your child’s behaviors and personalities that may be “too much,” “not enough,” or annoying when it makes sense?

Perhaps, a strong-willed child who’s very passionate about throwing tantrums can channel that assertiveness and independence at a library’s music class, a park district’s summer soccer camp, or a martial arts class.

Or, a child who’s expressive in their imaginary play can channel that creativity in storytelling whether through writing or dance.

To close, here’s one thing I’m so proud of: YOU. You’re raising both your child and inner child through the pandemic. And you’re here practicing social justice and intergenerational family healing through your daily parenting with me. If that’s not something to be proud of I don’t know what is.