In this Season of Light, I have found myself increasingly troubled by the fevered rhetoric of our nation’s leaders and what impact that will have on our children. On the one hand, it’s tempting to dismiss, thinking that this is a particular, transient political moment and that our children are young and hence shielded from such utterances. On the other hand, what if the rants or messages that are now frequent embed themselves as normal?

        That is where you as parents and Primary Day as a school have to step up our insistence on our shared values of kindness, empathy, and “treating others as you want to be treated.” The great religions of the world believe that Light, or its equivalent, always exists. Sometimes that Light shines brightly; sometimes we have to search harder for it; sometimes it takes a miracle for it to appear. In a completely developmentally appropriate way, we’ll explore some of that at our next Beako.

        I am always humbled by the wisdom of our parents and teachers and the practices of our families. How do you seek to ensure that Light dominates in your homes and classrooms? If you’d be willing to share your ideas, please send me an email with the subject line “Light.” I’ll anonymously share some of what I receive, because we all can always use more Light.