In My Mom Era

Birmingham, AL, in the 1950s and early 1960s was a different world from what we’re accustomed to today.

It is the site of pivotal events of the Civil Rights Movement, segregation, political upheaval, rallies, and the good and bad sides of humanity.

Children died violently. Racism was commonplace. Adults were beaten relentlessly.

People held peaceful rallies and advocated for their fundamental rights and equal treatment under the law.

My children have no idea what things were like then, and neither do I. I was blessed to be born after that time in our history.

By no intent do I mean to say that racism is completely gone, because it’s not, but having the site of so many important historical events at the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument accessible to our children and us is essential.

I haven’t been to this National Monument yet, but I will be heading there, probably sooner rather than later since Alabama is practically next door to us Missouri people!

And I honestly can’t wait to bring my kids. This will be a hugely important part of American history and culture that Declan and Tristan NEED to experience. We’ve broached the topic of racism and segregation before, when presented with reasons to do so, but going to this particular National Monument will bring everything front and center for the boys.

We have a responsibility as parents and educators to make sure we share with our children and future generations what has happened throughout our history. The good, the bad, and the supremely ugly!

I don’t think this particular National Monument would do much for the littles at the ages they are, but I believe that 8 and 9 are genuinely good ages to begin introducing this kind of history, if it hasn’t been introduced yet.

I envision walking through possibly the same areas that Martin Luther King, Jr. walked and imparting the importance of how absolutely incredible it is that 60+ years later, we may be taking the same steps.

I want my children to understand how four young girls went to church one Sunday morning to give thanks and praise to the Lord, never imagining that their lives would be so suddenly and violently taken from them.

They were children. They had families, dreams, and entire lives ahead of them. They deserved to grow up. The bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church on September 15, 1963, was a devastating event that galvanized the Civil Rights Movement and drew national attention to the violence of segregation.

To Addie Mae Collins, Carole Robertson, Denise McNair, & Cynthia Wesley – you have not been forgotten ❤️💔

I want them to understand how ordinary people were brutalized, humiliated, and denied their basic human rights simply because of the color of their skin.

The injustices that people have endured throughout history are terrible, but teaching future generations about them is essential if we hope to prevent those injustices from happening again.

I hope my family and I can visit this National Monument in the near future to experience the history preserved there and learn more about the people whose courage helped change our country.

I have to keep in mind littles during this type of trip too, so I’ve been looking up nearby parks and playgrounds that would work to break up the seriousness of the trip.

Because while I want my kids to understand the past, I also want them to BE kids. And playgrounds are instrumental in helping them learn to play on their own and with kids of their own age.

There are a couple of options fairly close by the National Monument, such as Triangle Park, McNeil Park, Byrd Park, & Wald Park, among others. The nice part about each of these parks is there are playgrounds, and they’re all within a half hour from the National Monument. I have NOT been to any of these locations, I’ve just saved them in my Google Maps for future use!

Stay tuned as we continue exploring our nation’s National Monuments and historic places. And when we finally make it to Birmingham, I’ll be sharing our family’s experience — all five kids, playground stops, and everything in between!

Kelly ❤️