Overcoming Differences | Harvard Sq. Mayfair | Food Truck Festival
How do you like the summer-like days? :)
Last Sunday we went biking as planned on Memorial Drive (okay, only with 40 minutes delay due to first me and then daughter napping. :) We saw a lot of friends there at different times. It's great to see everyone out enjoying the beautiful weather after the long winter.
As you know, I've been working on the Cambridge Parent Summit, now just a week away. It's kind of taken over my life honestly. :) I'm grateful that we have such an awesome organizing team (one parent called it the most high functioning team he's been on); and amazing support from both the parents who have RSVPed or told me they are excited to come and school admins like Gerald and Marguerite from our school and other schools who are helping to spread the word.
I want to talk a bit about overcoming differences, as I have to do some of that this week in organizing the event and dealing with my kids as well. Tuesday I went to PAUS our upper school's Diversity Dialogue.
One of the things I really liked that they brought up, is that people often avoid talking about race or SES based diversity for fear of offending. They encouraged us to talk about it openly with our kids and others, but we could also be open and curious, and learn. As long as we remain respectful and kind to others.
My son's in third grade, far away from the days when asking about his school day gets me a mono-syllable answer of "Fine" or "I don't remember." (Grr...) The topics they discuss are definitely much more complex. And there are topics I mention that immediately feels taboo to him, race being one. So now I feel I'm more prepared to start asking and talking about that.
The other thing I've noticed is many folks feels marginalized in some ways, and not always in the ways you expect. You might think based on the way people look that they are privileged, but once you start really talking to them that they also feel marginalized due to being an immigrant, their education level, medical condition, or their religious beliefs or lack thereof.
So one reaction would be to indeed not talk... cuz you can easily offend anyone! The other way, and what I'm determined to try to navigate and help my kids to do the same, is to start talk about differences, acknowledge I'm going to make some mistakes, apologize if I need to and be open and curious. That's the only way I can reach better understanding and a better collaboration with others. And indeed, we can also agree to disagree as well, with full respect. :)
Let me know if you have thoughts on this... it's very much a challenge I'm in the middle of working thru. And you'll probably hear more when you come to the Parent Summit next Saturday. :)
Weekend Events
MLK Mom Pamela! - Join us for an evening of glorious music in the splendid setting of Sanders Theatre, as Music Directo...
Friday, 8pm, Sanders Theatre, Harvard University 
Take a look at a galaxy not that far away. Join the folks from #popscope and use a telescope to look for the stars, pla...
Friday, 8pm, Boston Children’s Museum 
Science is everywhere, and the kitchen table is no exception! Join us for Grow Your Food IQ Weekend and discover the co...
Saturday, 9am - Sun., Museum of Science 
The Wake Up the Earth Festival began in 1979 when a group of local neighbors and activists banded together to stop the ...
Saturday, 10am, Jamaica Plain 
Spring into Science Saturday: RoboCup
Spring into Science Saturdays with MIT students as they "show and tell" the amazing work they are creating on campus.
Saturday, 11am, MIT Museum 
Greenway Spring Food Truck Festival
Come celebrate your favorite Greenway Food Trucks and Carts as we kick off spring on The Greenway! Join us on Rowes Wha...
Saturday, 11am, Atlantic Ave. and High Street, Boston 
Spring Block Party at Taza Chocolate!
Join us at the Taza Chocolate Factory to ring in spring the best way we know how - by rocking our little Somerville blo...
Saturday, 12pm, Taza Chocolate, Somerville 
Massachusetts State Science & Engineering Fair
Get your kids started on their interest in science. Public Showcase of Exhibits & STEM Expo! $500,000 in scholarships...
Saturday, 12:30pm, Johnson Athletics Center, MIT 
Spring Fling Talent Show & Silent Auction
The 2018 Spring Fling Talent Show & Silent Auction will take place on Saturday, May 5 from 4:30pm to 7pm–we hope you wi...
Saturday, 4:30pm, Cambridgeport School 
Opening Day at the Central Flea!
THE CENTRAL FLEA IS BACK, SUNDAY, MAY 6TH! Join us Sunday, May 6th for the grand opening of the Central Flea! Featur...
Sunday, 11am, University Park, Cambridge 
Annually attended by over 150,000 people, the 35th annual MayFair will feature… Live Music, Dance, and Street Perf...
Sunday, 12pm, Harvard Square 
Come join Cambridge Rindge and Latin School as we celebrate Scratch. Open to any Cambridge K-12 students and their guar...
Thursday, 5pm, Cambridge Rindge and Latin School 
Cambridge Parents will be holding a one-day summit on Saturday May 12. We hope to connect parents to discuss issues on ...
Saturday 5/12, 9:30am, Fletcher Maynard Academy 