The Future is for the Kids

Amidst all the feelings of hope and change that have been floating around following the election and inauguration of President Barack Obama, I have been secretly harboring cynicism about the fate of our future. As I continued to work in the streets and become increasingly aware of the rise and nature of crimes in the 7x7 area of San Francisco, my negativity seems validated. In a recent post on love in the first month of 2009, I remarked how I was lost in a state of limbo... I was devoid of hope and drive, not just about my own life but the world at large as well. It was extremely disheartening.

Luckily, I know how to remedy my personal maladies.

First, let me start by saying that I know nothing about kids. Just the other day I attended my first baby shower and found that I lacked the social etiquette necessary for that type of event. When the mother-to-be opened gifts, I oohed and aahed even though I had no clue what half of the items were. At one point she held up what looked like a tiny toilet brush and I imagined the most horrendous application of it. Thinking it was something used to clean out baby bottoms, I shrieked hella loud, "What the fuck is that for?!" It was a bottle cleaner.

I had so many questions about child birth, things I probably should have asked in my college Human Sexuality class... had I ever gone.

What happens to the umbilical cord after it gets cut? Does it retract back into the mother's body like an electrical cord or does it just hang there? Does the mother's belly turn into a large flap of skin after the child is born? How does a fetus breathe inside the mother's stomach? What does it feel like to breast feed? Does it hurt? Do you ever get turned on?

I didn't say that last question out loud because, yeah, it sounds stupid, but it's a VALID question! Amazing how much a baby shower made me, a woman on the verge of 25, feel like an infant. The party served as a gentle reminder that I am soooo not at that point in life where I can even think about thinking about children. My girl said it best, "Stick to bachelorette parties, eL. You're not ready for baby showers." So true, though I doubt I'm ready for those either.

But I digress.

In an attempt to rise up out of my previously mentioned funky mood, I decided to start volunteering for the Toddler Hour at the Salvation Army Harbor House. I've always believed that giving love is the best way to feel love so for the next couple months I have a standing date to hang out with 1-2 year old kids playing with toys, singing songs, and laughing for no other reason than the fact that life is good. It's been so long since I've been around anyone younger than the age of 16, I'd forgotten how easy life can be.

It wasn't hard for me to find joy in bouncing a rubber ball or stacking wooden blocks. I found immense therapy in singing my own hip-hop rendition of Row, Row, Row Your Boat to a group of eager toddlers. In fact, seeing the innocence in a 2 year old's cheerful eyes reminded me why I continue to struggle: if not to see a better world for myself, then to make a better world for these kids. They know nothing of the economic slump that has cut over 2.6 million jobs last year or the 800+ deaths in Gaza. They have no knowledge of police brutality or of the fact that the population of San Quentin State Prison is almost as large as the population of freshmen enrolling for the first time at San Francisco State University. I struggle now so that they don't have to.

But it's a mistake to say that today's youth have no knowledge of the troubles in our country. I recently came across an article on Newsweek.com that highlighted letters written by elementary school children, addressed to President Obama. Among the congratulatory sentiments and questions of "How does it feel to be the first black president?" the children made note of the issues they found pertinent to their own futures. If the children are aware of the struggle, isn't it in our best interests to make sure the struggle isn't for nothing?

"I wish for you to stop the war. And help the poor people to get jobs. I wish that you will be able to help immigrants get papers to come to our country." -Jowana Melendez, 3rd Grade

"Another thing is that you want to improve education for future kids. For example, you want to make college affordable for all kids so they won't have to pay a lot of money. President Obama, you will make big changes. You believe that all the money that we are wasting in Iraq could be spent on reasonable stuff like new supplies for schools, new programs and technology. You want to cut taxes for people who earn less than $250,000 a year." - Jessica Collado, 5th Grade

"President Obama, you encourage me and all of America to follow their dreams. We could be anything. You opened a door to everyone.

President Obama, may you please try to come up with new ways to help homeless people? I wish you and your family lots and lots of luck. I promise to follow you and Joe Biden's rules." -Mohamed Bamba, 5th Grade

"President Obama, can you stop the violence in our streets?" -Kris Alvarez, 4th Grade

[read full article here]

The Year of the Ox is upon us and I am refreshed today by the promise of a healthier world for my unborn child. I know my struggle has purpose, that my life has meaning, and that there is hope for our future. Sometimes, I need to be reminded.

And dude, if a 5th grader can tell that we're wasting money in Iraq, why can't our government?