Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! A couple years ago, I wrote a post expressing my utmost appreciation for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and those that stood with him in the fight for racial equality. He is a great figure in American history to me and I have the utmost respect and admiration for the principles that he stands for.
Last week, my five-and-a-half-year-old (as he’d want you to know) kindergartner came home with a little booklet called Dr. King. It’s a ten page, staple bound, black and white paper, booklet that gives some basic facts about who he was. A preacher. A peaceful protester. A man with a dream. It was in seeing my son’s excitement to share his book with our family that I found how simple sharing and celebrating this holiday can be. He read his book to us that evening. “We can save this and read it on Monday”, my son exclaimed. 😍
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character,”
-Martin Luther King Jr.
For the past several years, I’ve taken time to listen to the ‘I Have A Dream’ speech on the third Monday in January. It always fills me with a deep sense of gratitude for Dr. King, knowing that I am living the dream. In the past, I’ve taken my kids to a multicultural festival in my area to celebrate the holiday. The last time I went, I had two children, ages three years and three months, a good friend with kids the same age, and a double stroller. I really debated taking all three of my kids this year but I don’t quite have the energy. As much as I want to go, I’d really just be doing it to check off the super mom box on my mom card which is unnecessary. We’ll save this for 2021.
This year, my kiddos and I will be reading a couple booklets that my kindergartner brought home from school, including that Dr. King book my son wanted to read, as well as a simple Martin Luther King Jr. picture book that I got from the library. We’ll dance to Happy Birthday by Stevie Wonder. Fun fact: Did you know that song is about Martin Luther King Jr. Day becoming a holiday? It’s true. Look up the lyrics! Then we’ll meet those same good friends that we spent MLK Day with a couple years ago and let the kids run crazy at an inflatable park, while the other mom and I catch up. Sounds like the makings of a good day to me. Thank you Dr. King.