African American

freshwest

(53,661 posts) Wed Apr 15, 2015, 06:46 PM Apr 2015

Why We Need to Raise Powerful Children*

What comes to mind when you hear the word “power”? Does it evoke thoughts of control and abuse or do you think about empathy and compassion?

April 10, 2015 by Marie Roker-Jones

When I talk about raising powerful men, I get a mixed reaction, that is until I provide further explanation. As the mom of two boys, I am constantly looking at the world through the lens of sons as black males. I think about their future and how we are influencing how they see themselves and their world. I am frequently torn between reminding them of how the world sees them as black men and empowering them to be proud black men. It’s a delicate balance of teaching them that they are powerful while reinforcing that power isn’t measured by race, gender, money, or position. Don’t get me wrong, I am aware that many in our society are using these measures to benefit how they use power. Yet, that doesn’t give me an excuse to allow my sons to believe it.

I am not naive enough to believe that my sons will not face pressures to either exert what power they believe they have but I am hopeful that the foundations we set will guide them to make the right decisions. I don’t believe that we have to tell our sons that they are greater than or more accomplished than other children in order for them to feel valued, loved, or understood. I believe it’s important that they recognize their strengths and limitations while appreciating the strengths of others.

When we talk to our children about power and leadership, we have to remind them that leaders earn respect by having respect for themselves and others. Power comes from a place of love and not fear. To be powerful, our children have to see the best in themselves as well as in others. While our children may see people that contradict what we are teaching them about power, we can focus on how we raising better leaders for tomorrow.

We are raising future leaders and we have to inspire how they perceive power. When I think about a powerful person, I think about someone who is aware of and manages his/her feelings. A person who knows that power does not lie in controlling, intimidating, or abusing others in order to get results. A powerful person is mindful of how he/she communicates with others. A powerful person is accountable for his/her words and action...

More at the link:

http://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/why-we-need-to-raise-powerful-children-kerj/

*Disclaimer, I am not black. And this is for all mothers and for the mothers of girls, as described at the rest of the link.

We must define our voice to speak to our children of how to recognize their power and use it to be great human beings.