Molly and Princess Tiana

About a year ago, Molly Toddler took a trip to Target where she chose her very first Barbie: Princess Tiana. Later that day, she excitedly said to me "Look Mommy, she's brown colored!". I asked her what color she was. After about a minute of careful consideration, she finally answered "I think I'm kind of orange... and lots of PINK". This innocent (and fairly accurate) answer made me smile.

Molly informed me the other day that her brother Michael had brown skin. She was very excited to tell me this. I guess he must be imaginary-adopted...

As a non-southerner living in the South, I am very careful about how I talk to her talk about skin color. I am frequently taken aback by some of the attitudes that still prevail here, and do not want my children to learn them. Molly doesn't think of herself as "white" (see above :-). Obviously, she is observant and is aware that many people look different from our family. In the past, if she said something about it, I'd say something like "everyone looks different, and that's just the way God made us". It's been enough...

Last weekend, we were in a parking lot waiting for Grandma Toddler. A group of very dark skinned ladies passed by our car.

Molly (squealing excitedly): Mom! That lady looks like Grandma.

Me: Really? Why does she look like Grandma?

Molly: Um... She looks like her body. And her clothes.

Me: Are they the same in other ways?

Molly: Their hair is black. But that lady has dark skin.

Me: That's true. She has skin like Princess Tiana doesn't she?

Molly: Yeah... She's so pretty.

Though the lady had a similar body shape and was wearing a shirt similar to one of Grandma Toddlers, it never would have occurred to me to think they looked "alike".

A few minutes later, we got out of the car and headed into the store. The group of ladies walked by again...

Molly (squealing excitedly): Look! It's the lady that looks like Grandma! But she has dark skin that matches the road!

Molly loves it when things match, and gets very loud and excited about it. I have no idea if they heard her. She was innocently observing, but I doubt it would be taken well.

She just likes to talk about what color things are, and people are not off limits. Any suggestions on age appropriate ways to approach this subject with Molly? Should it even be approached?