One of the things I love the most about Annabel is how curious she is. She always wants to know how things work, why things happened, etc. Tools like YouTube Kids have been fantastic in helping us find material that explains the things she’s curious about in a way that’s appropriate for her. One day she asked us why there had only been male Presidents, and that lead us into a discussion about important women in history. We found some great videos on YouTube Kids about historical women, and she spent a lot of time watching them and asking us for more information about the women that struck a chord with her.
The one historical figure that completely fascinated Annie was Anne Frank, “because her name is like mine and she was just a kid, like me.” We did some searching and gave her a lot of great kid-friendly resources to watch, but when she finished all of those she said, “Can I read her book?” Mike and I decided that she could, as long as one of us was there with her to answer questions and help her with the more difficult aspects. So every night for the last month, Annie has made her way through a few pages of the Diary of Anne Frank.
Last week, Annie said, “Mom, I have a question about Anne Frank. If they knew that they were going to need to hide, why didn’t they just leave, like run away?” I told her that her father, Otto, had actually tried to get his family into the United States, but they’d been denied entry. She expressed the same kind of horror I remember feeling when I’d first learned about the Frank family so many years ago. “That’s so mean! I wish I was alive then, I would have let Anne and all of her friends in, and then we could have played together.”
I wonder what Annabel’s children will one day ask her about today’s Anne Franks. I wonder if they’ll be just as horrified. I know I am. I see the faces of the mothers and fathers who are desperately trying to get their children to safety and I think, “If I hadn’t been lucky enough to be born in the US that would be me doing everything I could to save my babies.” I feel sick, and I feel ashamed.
If Annabel were to hear about current events (and oh, how I hope she doesn’t), I don’t know what I’ll tell her. I don’t know.
Lindsay says:
Thank you.
Josey says:
THANK YOU Heather and Mike for raising children who understand the world we live in. Thank you for exposing Annabel to the history of communities/groups, etc. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my immigrant heart!
Angela Peterson says:
Look up Marion Blumenthal Lazan. Her book is “Four Pebbles”. She grew up in concentration camps. I went and saw her speak last week and she was AMAZING. In talking to her husband (who is absolutely adorable), he told me that they just came out with a children’s version of her book.
Heather says:
Oh, I will do that right now, thank you!
Auntie_M says:
Thank you!!!!
THTLaura says:
Marion’s book is amazing. She and her husband are wonderful people. She use to come and speak to my mom’s fifth grade class when she was teaching. I can’t say enough good things about Marion, her husband Nathaniel and Four Perfect Pebbles!
Stephanie says:
Heather, thanks for writing this and framing the situation so perfectly. I know I feel scared and lost and amazed that some people are choosing to not see what is so obvious.
Tracey says:
I can’t imagine how to explain what is going on today to children. I am scared, I am horrified myself and I simply cannot imagine how to explain it to child, when there are no good words for what is going on in our country? How do you explain it without terrifying them???? It has gotten so bad, I have given up Facebook temporarily because I can’t handle some of what my “friends” are writing.
Jackie says:
I got chills reading this. It is such a scary time right now, especially when you look at what has happened before. My Jewish daughter is 12 and I’m not even sure how to sit down and have this conversation with her, on what is going on right now. You are an amazing mom, allowing her to learn about this and not hiding it from her.
Becca says:
Yes.
Jessica says:
Exactly how I am feeling. Thank you for sharing.
Toni says:
My feelings exactly!
Chris says:
Yes, yes, yes, so well said
a says:
Because the denial of entry for persons from regions which really need help to protect their babies is happening in the States again?
Peggy says:
In a sense, you are lucky that Annie is as young as she is. My girls are 11, 13 and 14. The 14 year old is very passionate and insatiable about what is going on in the world. She did a school project last year about Syrian refugees, and she is as appalled as I am at what is happening. She has a hard time knowing how to react to and deal with friends and family who are Trump supporters. I have no answers for her. I can only tell her that, next time we choose a president, she will be voting. I hope she stays as interested and passionate as she is today and I hope she channels that passion into action. I just hope that her first election will have a drastically different outcome than this one did.
Annalisa says:
Much as we have tried to shield my anxious six year old from the news, there’s been enough discussion about civil rights in her school due to an (incidental) assembly about Martin Luther King and the goings on in DC that she found herself doing what my kid usually does: thinking outside the box.
She’s been trying to find a good solution for the problem that wasn’t gonna hurt anyone, so this is what she declared to us last weekend: “I’m gonna build a time machine so we can go back in time and tell people [career salesman who decided to run for office] is mean, and we should not elect him.”
Our heart as parents just about broke, having to tell her that a time machine wasn’t going to be an easy (let alone possible) endeavor.
Heather says:
Oh, what a sweetheart!
Auntie_M says:
The timing of this!!! I guess I would tell Annie, that, sadly, our current president has made some decisions that are as wrong as the decisions made back in Anne Franks’ day…affecting many, many families with children just like Anne.
And then I would tell her that fortunately there are, today, many people who are arguing against this wrong & hurtful decisions, who just like Annabel, want to let these families in so their families can live near ours & their children can play with ours–just like Annabel.
Annabel has a wonderful, tender heart. I love her so!!!!
Danielle says:
So well said, I can’t really think of anything to add. Everything the past few days is just horrifying and terrible. I remember thinking that it was incredible that Anne still had so much hope and optimism- I wish I had some of that optimism right now.
(Also completely off topic, but I see that Sweet Valley Kids book! Is Annie liking it so far?)
Heather says:
Yes!!! It’s the first book, where the twins turn 7, so it’s perfect for her!
AuntieMip says:
Tell her to “be the change”. We all need to simply be the change, Oh, I could go on and on about political affiliations, senators , politicians and a certain hued leader of the free world, but that changes nothing. Being the hands and feet of those in need. Being a voice. Being the change. That is what she needs to know. The world will always hit us with hard, cold truths of human greed and failing. She needs to know that in as gentle a way as possible. But her new hero knew how.
How ironic that Anne said it best…”How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” – Anne Frank
How wonderful indeed.
Jessica says:
Right there with you.
Christine says:
Such a difficult topic! My husband’s grandparents were US citizens during WWII of Japanese decent and were put into “internment” camps and lost everything. I have taken my kids to Manazar and told them the stories. I have no words for what is going on right now. I have Muslim friends that are afraid to travel and for their families.
We watched rerun of an episode of Girl Meets World on Disney channel last night about the kids heratige that spoke so much to me. I just cried. At the end, when they talk about how Americans are made up off all of the different cultures that have come here. It was so timely.
It is so important for us to teach our children about the mistakes of the past so that they are not repeated. Thank you.
kim says:
This is great. I was fascinated by Anne Frank’s story when I was younger too. And the fact that it’s still so relevant today is mind-blowing in so many ways. You should tell her about Malala Yousafzai… a real life girl superhero doing amazing things for girls all over the world. Keep up the good work!
meg says:
So True. I wanted to let you know about a book series if you don’t know about it…The Who Was series. Non-fictional books about everyone and anyone. My daughter first became interested in them with her fascination with artist, but has soon read about presidents, first ladies, scientists, Anne Frank, Malala Yousafzai…there are so many…each well done and extremely informative…FYI
Lynn says:
Thank you. We live in a small town, my husband is an immigrant. Most people here are uneducated…so even if they know where he is from, they wouldn’t know where it is. (Sad but true.) Many just assume he is Mexican and we’ve not done or said anything to change that assumption. A few know he is Turkish…fewer know he is Muslim. I’m afraid…I’ve been afraid for years but now it’s worse…afraid people would throw things through our windows…or worse..if they knew. Afraid our daughter will no longer get invited to birthdays and sleep overs if people knew “why” she doesn’t eat pork. Her heart would be broken. With all this talk of Trump people around here are SO outspoken and just plain scary. We talk about moving but can’t really afford to go anywhere. Cost of living is cheap here, we own our home. I’ve got a good job that I’ve had for 17 years. It’s specialized, I can’t just go somewhere else and do the same thing. This whole new Trump Universe just SUCKS so completely horribly bad for us, and for so many others much worse off than we are. Anyway I’m rambling…just thank you for posts. It’s nice to know there are people out there who still care. My daughter has Syrian blood from her grandfathers side..when I hear let them die..we don’t want their kind of trash here (people have said that in my presence…not knowing) I just want to pack my child up and move to Turkey. If I didn’t have 80 year old parents we probably would.
Heather says:
I’m so, so sorry Lynn. I wish you were close by. We’d love to have you as friends. I’m thinking about you xoxo.
Toni says:
That is so heartbreaking! There are far more good and loving people who care. Hang in there!
Nadinsche says:
It is so good to read what you teach Annie. There are so many good people like you in this world. Let’s hope that they outnumber all the Trumps on this planet.
Lisa says:
That is heavy reading… Love that she’s tackling it. The empathy that she’ll add to her already immense values will be amazing!
Angie says:
These are important conversations to have with our children! I took my 8 year old to the Women’s March in DC last week and it was hard to explain why so many people were so outraged. So, I took her to the National Museum of African American History and Culture the next day… and the impact has been significant. We cannot shy away from our history… especially now.
Crystal says:
My 9yo read Number the Stars at the beginning of the school year. Ever since she’s been reading one holocaust book after another. She just finished one written by Anne’s best friend. She said it was heartbreaking.
My 9yo is keeping up with current events and she’s appalled & scared.
Sarah says:
Tears. Thank you. When she is a bit older and ready, bring her to the Museum of Tolerance and the LA Museum of the Holocaust. Both have child-appropriate exhibits.
Christy says:
Hey Heather,
If you haven’t read “The Diary of Anne Frank” in awhile, you should reread it immediately. While it’s wonderful that Annie wants to learn about Anne Frank, it’s my opinion (and that of many teachers/librarians) that the subject matter is too mature for a child of her age. There are plenty of age-appropriate books about Anne Frank out there, but I’d hold off on letting her read this book until at least fifth or sixth grade. (Even that is a bit on the young side.) This book is typically part of a core curriculum in seventh or eighth grade, FYI…
Keth Selhan says:
I am glad; you did open this topic.
I was a very curious and delicate child. I remember reading the Anne Frank book by a real young age, maybe being six years old. I still remember how her fate has shaken me up and I could put myself in Anne’s shoes.
Later, when I was more grown up I have done my research still in elementary school about Anne Frank, I remember reading about the old oak tree by her house that was or should be cut down.
More years later, I have read the full version of Anne Frank’s diary, and it made me sorrowful. I can not believe some disturbed humans German Nazis were capable of doing the holocaust and still … some claim that this sad part of history never existed. That is it a huge slap to the Jewish community and a gruesome act.
I have watched Anne Frank’s movie (it is great, I recommend a version from 1959, it is a masterpiece) and I loved it. Maybe when Annie is ready, you should watch this movie with her.
I was and am still admire Anne Frank’s character and her seriously talented gift with writing. If Anne had survived, she would be a famous writer for sure. Sadly it didn’t happen, but Anne Frank has become immortal through her diary read by many people and she is a remind to us, what a horrible war can do to a child and how she has never given up hope she would be alive at the end of World War II.
I think it is great you have supported Annabel’s interest about this girl and explained to her how it is matters. You are raising a great kid with bright future, and yes, we hope, our children and their descendants will live in a better, happier and safer world and never have to experience war horrors.
Ellie says:
I saw a twitter-quote a few days ago- “Everyone talks about that they would have done if they had been around back then. It’s happening now. What you would have done is what you’re doing now.” I know the logistics are difficult, but have you thought about taking Annie to a local march or getting involved with some of the groups around you? Especially since she’s so involved politically. Either way, it’s great that she’s so compassionate and interested in what’s going on around her.