Why do we tell stories to our kids? Why do we tell them about history? Teach them about Martin Luther King Jr., George Washington, Porcia Cato, Cincinnatus, Florence Nightingale, Jesus, Marcus Aurelius? Because it matters.
As Longfellow wrote, Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime, And, departing, leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time.
We are trying to teach our kids the most important and pressing lesson of all: that they can make a difference, they can change the world.
We tell our kids stories to inspire them. That’s what bedtime reading is about—not just tiring them out so they’ll go to sleep. The point of history class isn’t to berate them with the evil deeds of old dead white guys. We want them to know: People can have an impact. People can lead wonderful lives. People can leave their footprints on the sands of time.
Not just people, not just heroes or the dynastically wealthy, but your kids too. They can do this. And in helping them realize that, you are making your own impact.