"Ruth goes first. We all call back.
"Good morning, Ruth."
And then it's Nina's turn, and Eric's
and all around the circle.
Finally, it's my turn!
I say "I am Kikelomo."
But no one says it back to me."
One week from tomorrow, our schools will open for another year. For many kids, it is a happy and exciting time; for others, it can be disquieting. So much depends on those first days! It's a perfect time for parents and their children to have conversations about empathy and understanding as the new year begins. A gentle smile, a warm welcoming hello, and a guiding hand will set the tone for many happy days to come. Let's not leave it all up to the teachers.
Kikelomo is a child of joy, excited about school and a bit nervous. It's her first day at a new school. She enters the classroom with a happy smile, joining the circle and ready to share her name with her classmates. One child makes a snide remark about Kikelomo's name not being a normal one; rather, it is weird. The others giggle.
Kikelomo is upset by the comment and spends the rest of her school day feeling that way. She cries with Mommy, and asks about her weird name. Her mom explains how her name was chosen, and that her heritage is both Nigerian and Mohawk Nation. Her Nigerian name means 'a child who is cherished'.
Together, the family talks about all those times when Kikelomo feels cherished: reading at bedtime, riding her bicycle with Daddy, talking with Grandpa, singing in Yoruba with Grandma, playing with cousins, sleepovers, marshmallow roasts on the reserve with Uncle Kenny, and gifts from world traveler, Uncle Usman. There is so much to be thankful for, and that shows how much she is loved.
When she explains the importance of her name to her schoolmates the following day, it makes all the difference. After that, her new friends are happy to share the origins of their own names ... even their teacher whose first name is Elvis!
What a special book to share on the first day of school, and often after that.
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