We are the safe grownups

We love them, we defend them, we mix the next batch of playdough.

Dear friends,

I write to you with exciting news: we are the safe grownups! When we see a kiddo at the park struggling on the monkey bars, we get to give them an encouraging smile. When our own children wake in the night, get to hold them. When children across the world are subject to a brutal genocide, we get to defend them in any way we can. When a kid tells us about their new name, we get to use it with joy and delight. When our best friend's teenager needs condoms, we get to buy them. When we discover an amazing book, we get to buy it for our local library.

And when all of children's basic rights come under attack in a single week, we get to be the grownups who steady the ship, each in our own way, and remind every kid in our orbit how precious they are, how meaningful their life is, and how inalienable their rights will always be.

We get to do this for the next four years, come what may, and then for the rest of our lives. We get to make playdough. We get to revel in the amazing way our niblings observe the world. On a personal level, on a community level, on a global level. It will be us. We are the aunties, uncles, caregivers, neighbors, parents, and community members who will show up. How lucky are we?

I'm so excited to explore with y'all what it means to be a safe grownup for each of us, and how we can marshal our gifts in celebration of children and in defense of their rights. I believe in this as one of our life's purposes, and I believe that it will be joyful, along with everything else. Let's keep talking about it.

In that vein, some meaningful, fun stuff for all of us:

-The best homemade playdough recipe

-The song I've been listening to on repeat with my kids.

-The article that will prep you for all the follow-up questions about facis,

-The coolest kid-affirming t-shirts, made by an incredible company is Western NC, restocking tomorrow.

-This organization local to me, working to defend immigrants rights. Find the one local to you. Plug in with them. They'll guide you.

-This organization local to me that cherishes and celebrates queer and gender-creative kids. If you want help finding something similar in your community, just ask.

-These cookies. Batch after batch. Baked in a cast iron skillet for ultimate ease.

-My favorite kids' store, with an awesome Lunar New Year Sale.

-This wonderful online kids educator with fantastic Lunar New Year Content

-This poem. Kids are wild things, right?

And this question for your kids: Who are the people who DON'T LIVE IN YOUR HOUSE who are in your family? How do you stay in touch with them?

More soon. We can do this.

Love, Anna

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Anna Carson DeWitt

annacarsondewittphotography.com
919-475-8548