Explaining The Million People March To My Daughter

I woke up confused whether to go.  There was so much to do before a four-day business trip the next day, and already so little time spent with Ladybug Girl on regular working days as it is.

What pushed me to go was a memory: my parents.  Scrambling hurriedly through their things to grab flashlights and supplies to go march on Edsa in 1986.  They were ordinary private citizens and they could have so easily said "we're doing naman our share" or "I believe in it, but...".  My parents left five little girls behind in their humble home.

I am still so proud of them today. 

So what example was I setting for my daughter, being wishy-washy at home and worrying about a to-do list? 

But first I had to explain to my four-year old girl why we were leaving.  How did you explain it to your kids?  Mine went something like: "There are some bad leaders in the government who stole the people's money.  We are going on a rally - which is like a big parade - so that the government will listen to us, put the bad leaders in jail, and stop stealing the country's money."

Yeah, not too smooth. 

But the absolute very best way to connect to children?  Play!  

We made our own rally sign:

"Stop Steal" footprints and letters by Ladybug Girl.  PvZ2 partylist by Daddy.

And then we rallied around the house chanting a heartfelt cry:

"Stop stealing money!  Plants vs. Zombies 2!"

She couldn't understand that we would be gone for two hours:

            Her: how many minutes are you there?

            Her: (listens) but I can't count that big!

            Her: I wish it were seconds na lang

            Her: I am not going stop counting until you. come. back!

I set up a countdown timer on the iPad and she was fine after that, secure in the knowledge of where her parents are, why they were there without her, and when they would come back.  Isn't that what every child just needs?

And so we went. 

We found the flag of our University of the Philippines, who taught us to act for our country 

This was sissie #5's first time to rally.  Sniff!  I took her to her first vote at eighteen too!

Every parent there was marching for their children.  Thinking about how to teach them well.

I brought home this message : 

And she sent me one of her own:

Link

Her reassurance made it all worth it.

Our kids make us proud to be their parents everyday.

May we make them proud to be our kids, too.

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