Down The Line

Having given birth to a child in Hawai'i, I'm always thinking about her future in terms of the experiences she'd likely have growing up here (if she does).
    I can't help but think about how different they'd be from my own and even her father's.  We were both born and raised in the South where the majority of the people we encountered on a day to day basis looked like us and where there's a way of life that's distinct to that region.  Although he's traveled to many countries in Africa, South America, and the Caribbean and spent a great part of his life in a progressive part of Northern California as well as here in Hawaii, I only left my home state of Louisiana shortly before my 31st birthday in late 2013.  I've traveled to many places and have had a lot of diverse experiences, but the South is still very much ingrained in me.

Being raised in these islands Noni would have an opportunity to be exposed to so many other cultures.  Hawaii is an eclectic mix of people from here, the Philippines, Japan, China, Vietnam, Micronesian Islands, Samoa, Tonga, other parts of the US, etc. Her peer group would be far more diverse than any I could have dreamed of when I was a child, and mine certainly wasn't monolithic.  

Hawai'i's Population at 2010 Census 

All of this would be the norm for her having been born and raised here.  For some reason, something about this makes me wonder.  I'm not exactly sure what about, but I believe it has something to do with wanting her to have a solid foundation in terms of her identity so that she can then move among others and appreciate what they have to offer without feeling a sense of doubt or inadequacy about who she is and what she can give.  Stated more succinctly,  maybe it bothers me that she
may not have something that I feel I did have as a child: a reaffirmation of self nearly everywhere I looked.  That's something I never even thought about in terms of my own experience growing up until now, so I truthfully don't know how crucial it is to have that be a factor in raising my own children, although it feels very important.  For me it's just the way it was, and thankfully I didn't have to deal with issues concerning my identity.  I realize now how fortunate I've been in that sense.

  

 Naturally, we want all that's great for her and hope that nothing but the most positive experiences flow her way.   Regardless of how the situation may evolve, we intend for her to grow into the person it is she will be as to be determined by her own encounters, what we give her emotionally/spiritually/culturally, how she's educated, and that indescribable aspect of life that seems to be the standard.  Ultimately, it's our duty to provide the context within which she can grow and flourish no matter where we are.

It's great that things are so chill out here, and--for the most part--people are allowed to just be. That's something that I'm sure would play positively into her experience.



Happy Aloha Friday, as it goes over our way.  Enjoy!

More practice back carrying with a wonderful cotton sarong we got this week from Casual Movements.
 :)