Thursday, January 14, 2021
Subscriber Login
SpotlightNews
  • Home
  • News
    • Business
      • Spotlight On Business
      • Spotlight on Finance
    • Community
    • Covid-19 Updates
    • Crime
    • Environment
    • Government
    • Milestones
    • Obituaries
  • Sports
  • The Spot 518
  • Hot Spots Calendar
    • Calendar Listings
    • Submit Your Event
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Our Opinion
    • Point of View
    • Your Opinion
  • Family Now
  • Classifieds
    • Classified Listings
    • Advertiser Login
  • Subscribe
    • Subscriber LogIn
    • Join us – Subscribe Today
    • Renew Subscription
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Business
      • Spotlight On Business
      • Spotlight on Finance
    • Community
    • Covid-19 Updates
    • Crime
    • Environment
    • Government
    • Milestones
    • Obituaries
  • Sports
  • The Spot 518
  • Hot Spots Calendar
    • Calendar Listings
    • Submit Your Event
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Our Opinion
    • Point of View
    • Your Opinion
  • Family Now
  • Classifieds
    • Classified Listings
    • Advertiser Login
  • Subscribe
    • Subscriber LogIn
    • Join us – Subscribe Today
    • Renew Subscription
No Result
View All Result
Spotlight News
No Result
View All Result
Home Capital District Family Now Parent Pages

THE 24 HOUR SHIFT: Seeing past color to parent

Kaitlin Lembo by Kaitlin Lembo
June 29, 2020
in Parent Pages, Parenting Columns
0
THE 24 HOUR SHIFT: New beginnings take time
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

By THERESA DAVIS

As a Caucasian parent of children of color, my parenting is on a whole different level. Haircare has changed for me –  no more just washing, combing, done. Black history is so much more than just the work of Martin Luther King Jr. My family has become very aware of the eurocentrism in our school curriculum and how little it goes into how black culture has enriched America’s culture as a whole.

As a white person, I have no idea what it is like to be out in public and fearful of someone calling the police on me, or being followed around a store like a thief simply because of the color of my skin.

I find the experience of parenting children of color to be enriching, enlightening and eye-opening. Our family has been “woke” since our children walked through our doors.

There is a uniqueness to our circumstance. Racism and white privilege for us is like changing clothes. Sometimes the racism can be subtle, just like a general feeling of being unwelcome in an environment. Other times it’s more blatant, like being called nasty names when our child is having a public tantrum. When the kids aren’t with me, I feel the white privilege turn back on. It’s an interesting yet unwelcome experience that I could do without.

Parents of children of color things have to say things to their children that one would never say to a white child, such as “Some people may not like you because of your color, and because of that you need to be more careful.” No parent should have to tell their child these things, and no child should have to hear it.

As Caucasians, parenting a child of color is like wandering through unchartered territory. There are many twists and turns, hostility and kindness. It’s mostly on-the-job training, but the enrichment and education we get is well worth it.

Theresa Davis is a former early childhood educator and has worked in childcare centers for more than 15 years. She is also an adoptive mother, living and taking care of her family in the Capital District.

Tags: capital district family nowSpotlight Parent Pagesthe 24 hour shift
Previous Post

OBITUARY: SCHULZ, DONALD F.

Next Post

Shaker High graduation edition moved to July 15, ads due July 8

Next Post
Spotlight News offering congratulatory messages for Shaker grads

Shaker High graduation edition moved to July 15, ads due July 8

Leave Comment

Stay Connected with Us

  • 7k Fans
  • 4.6k Fans
  • 610 Fans
  • 2k Followers
  • 357 Subscribers

Recent News

Vince Palmeri debuting first 2021 single, “Criminal,” Friday

Vince Palmeri debuting first 2021 single, “Criminal,” Friday

January 14, 2021
ON THE BOOKSHELF: Read to work out your brain (adult)

ON THE BOOKSHELF: Read to work out your brain (adult)

January 14, 2021
SPOTTED: Bethlehem boys roll past Ballston Spa

SPOTTED: Bethlehem boys roll past Ballston Spa

January 14, 2021
SPOTTED: Bethlehem girls bowling team falls to Columbia

SPOTTED: Bethlehem girls bowling team falls to Columbia

January 14, 2021

Hot Stories This Week

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Sheriff: Two men forget drug stash in rental car, arrested when they go back for it

Sheriff: Two men forget drug stash in rental car, arrested when they go back for it

January 13, 2021
Albany County vaccinates 375 at TU center

Albany County vaccinates 375 at TU center

January 8, 2021
Barbara Gallager dies at age 81

Barbara Gallager dies at age 81

January 13, 2021
Albany County opens first vaccination pod, one death, 263 new cases, 230 recoveries

Albany County opens first vaccination pod, one death, 263 new cases, 230 recoveries

January 7, 2021
Vince Palmeri debuting first 2021 single, “Criminal,” Friday

Vince Palmeri debuting first 2021 single, “Criminal,” Friday

January 14, 2021
ON THE BOOKSHELF: Read to work out your brain (adult)

ON THE BOOKSHELF: Read to work out your brain (adult)

January 14, 2021
SPOTTED: Bethlehem boys roll past Ballston Spa

SPOTTED: Bethlehem boys roll past Ballston Spa

January 14, 2021
SPOTTED: Bethlehem girls bowling team falls to Columbia

SPOTTED: Bethlehem girls bowling team falls to Columbia

January 14, 2021
Spotlight News

Spotlight News, The Spot 518 and Capital District Family Now are divisions of Community Media Group, LLC. Our local offices are located at 341 Delaware Ave, Delmar, NY 12054. You can contact us at 518.439.4949.

Browse

Follow Us

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact the Editor
  • Employment
  • Our Team
  • Privacy & Policy

© 2021 Community Media Group, LLC - 341 Delaware Ave. Delmar, NY 12054. 518.439.4949

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Spotlight On Business
    • Spotlight on Finance
  • Sports
  • The Spot 518
  • Hot Spots Calendar
  • Opinion
  • Subscribe
  • Log In
  • Classifieds
    • Advertiser Login

© 2021 Community Media Group, LLC - 341 Delaware Ave. Delmar, NY 12054. 518.439.4949