My kids don't care about hashtags

Crash course on hashtag use: even if it might mean something good, people will be upset and it might mean something bad. 🤷 And if you choose not to use it, people will be upset.

Oh, and you might get fired from your job.

I want to write about the current events (riots, protests, hashtag shaming) that are happening in our country. 

On one hand I'm so very grateful to live where I do. (This isn't the first time in the past few months that I've thought that!) Country town. Kind people. No major trouble. As far as you can see, the world is at peace.

It's easier to forget about the chaos and danger and to enjoy my babies and the sunshine. 

On the other hand, I'm distraught by what's happening. I'm happy that voices are being heard. I'm saddened that others are being silenced. Can't we all just be kind?

#blackouttuesday is a hashtag I used on my Instagram feed (with a black screen), as a show of support for the voices of black people who need to be heard right now. We need to hear them in order to better understand just how big of an issue this is. I am not too ignorant to recognize my own privileged life.

#alllivesmatter is a hashtag I've seen (and agree with). However- originally I didn't realize that that hashtag was like a slap in the face to the #blacklivesmatter hashtag. Huh? I thought it meant you agreed that black lives matter. And brown lives matter. And white lives matter. And police lives matter. Because they do, right?

Can you see my confusion? Have you felt it too? 

I read something that helped me to understand it. 

So, I'm realizing that yes, all lives matter. But for right now, people with black skin need help. They have been discriminated against, for too long, just because of the color of their skin. And because of the fear people learned at home.

I'm still saddened and disgusted that it has to get violent. That others are dying amidst the protests. I read a very small blurb in the local paper about a young police officer dying after he was shot by an unknown shooter during a protest in California. He did nothing wrong.

Why? Why does this have to happen?

And I'm angry that a couple of really bad cops created a tough situation for so many good cops.

But I've listened enough today to understand that it isn't just cops. And it isn't just in the south that this has been happening.

Here's my takeaway: I read something that said "Whether you like it or not, your kids are going to learn about this in their history books. What are you going to tell that about your involvement?" I decided I don't want to have to tell my kids anything- they'll know. They'll remember our talks about tolerance and kindness. They'll know that I made a specific, direct effort to teach them that everybody is equal in God's eyes.

My kids will not see me picketing on a street corner. And they probably won't know that I posted a black screen today, with the hashtag #blackouttuesday, for whatever that's worth. But they will grow up knowing that I care about people. And that I use kindness wherever I go (including on the internet).

The hate of the world has taught me that I can make a difference. I can start with my favorite followers: my seven kids. 

I've learned that when I start to feel like this (like the turmoil of the world is creeping into my own life), it's time for a break. So I'll turn my #blackouttuesday into a week of silence- as the hashtag creators suggested. For my own peace and that of my family, I'll just turn it all off. 

I'll pray for peace. And I'll do my part where I have the best influence- in my own home.

Be safe.