What ‘white’ means to me:
Snow: I first went skiing when I was a tween and, whilst I wasn’t too sure about it initially, once I’d got into the swing of it I began to love it. I was extremely fortunate to be taken on several skiing holidays to Italy , France, Switzerland and Austria by my parents, went on two school skiing trips and a couple as an adult with friends to Andorra.
Nowadays there is very little chance of seeing a snow-topped peak or a chocolate box Alpine village, but I’m hoping that when the kids are a bit older we might get the chance to introduce them to the joys of hurtling down a slick white mountain on a couple of metal planks – so exhilarating!
White Noise: I never really thought about this until I had a newborn. Its not until you’ve been for a long drive, introduced a dummy, played/sung hours of lullabies, and swung 12 lb of baby and car seat until your arm dropped off (almost) that you would actually consider sitting your child in front of the spin cycle or tuning the radio in to static fuzz. Anything’s worth a try right?
White Lies: We tell them to our children all the time: Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, the Monsters Under The Bed (OK, not that last one!). Is it OK? Some say no, your children will grow up to feel betrayed or worse, they will think its OK to lie. I think the main point here is the adjective ‘white’ is there for a reason – the intent is good, the intent is to create magic, or instil some sort of discipline, or assuage a fear. The ends justify the means.
The colour of my skin: At the age of 21 in my first year at Sussex University I met one of my lifelong best friends who just happens to be a black American. Through getting to know her I found myself one evening attending and ACS (African and Caribbean Society) cultural event and this may have been the first and last time that I have been so aware of being in a racial minority. Whilst there wasn’t any fear or worry in the situation (we were all educated, or wannabe educated young people after all) it gave me the briefest glimpse into that feeling that those of other races must sometimes experience when their whole lives are played out as an ‘ethnic minority’. It’s a sad indictiment on society that despite reaching an era in which a black man can become the president of the USA, in some ways racism is as rife as ever. The best every one of us can do as a a parent is to bring our children up to be ‘colour blind’.
Linking up to Week One of February’s Theme Game over at The Reading Residence and Red Peffer
And then the fun began... 
Lots of white stuff! I had never got any of my babies to listen to white noise, perhaps if I have another, I will give that a try. #TheThemeGame
Come to think of it I don’t know if I even tried white noise – it would have felt a bit like throwing a tissue into a hurricane!
Lots of different and interesting takes on ‘white’ there. I’m not one for snow, though my husband likes to snowboard, and of course, it’s fab for the kids! Fortunately, we never needed the white noise, though I’ve heard it can be brilliant! Absolutely, white lies! And you’re right, the emphasis is on ‘white’. And to your final point, definitely. We’re fortunate enough to live in a multicultural country, and as we live near a major city, too, are surrounding by different cultures, races, faiths, which I think can only enrich my kids and as they start out in life colour-blind, why on earth would we want to change that?
Thanks for sharing with #TheThemeGame x
I liked your choice of word this week – it is so open to many different interpretations and it can mean so many different things!
Wonderful post. I’ve had friends all my life from different racial backgrounds and I truly want my son to be colour blind too. Nothing angers me more than prejudice. Working in Export Sales was a wonderful way of seeing different cultures and I hope that I can share that with my son too. #TheThemeGame
Thank you. I think its something which we take for granted but I’m sure our friends of different backgrounds are just as likely to have experienced casual racism as we as women have experienced casual sexism. Its not right though.
Love your tour through ‘white’. We have plenty of the first one at the moment đŸ™‚ White noise didn’t really work for us, but others swear by it! White lies, completely with you on that one and I hope that by moving overseas, albeit to the US, that we are already on our way to instilling that in our children. #TheThemeGame
Oh yes, one of our NCT friends is currently living in New York and we keep seeing amazing pictures on Facebook of JJ’s friend being dragged to school on a sledge in the snow, etc! I’m not sure if the US isn’t worse for racism than the UK but everyone who lives in a city is definitely in a ‘melting pot’ so its more everyday to see and interact with those of other ethnic backgrounds which always helps children see it as common place and normal.
I particularly like the para on white lies. A really nice take on the word in this context.
Lovely post. Fantastic, inspiring last line. X