Little things adults and older people can do to help younger people and children feel included, safe, and respected as an equal individual:
Ask before touching the young person - even for hugs. Ask before you take pictures of them, and let them see photographs of them before they are printed or sent to others (even family).
Apologize when you are wrong
Ask for a young persons thoughts on a subject, then engage with them after they have spoken
Demonstrate behaviour you want to see from them (see: apologizing). Say "excuse me," say "thank you," say "please" to them
Validate their feelings, even if they don't know how to express them just yet
Remember that this is the first time they've been alive, and that you've had way longer to "figure it out"
These are some things I wish other adults remembered when engaging with young folks. We so often forget what childhood felt like and how unfair it all was because we were often awarded freedoms as adults that we never had as children. These kids are equal to adults, and they deserve the same courtesy, respect, kindness, and understanding we give to other adults.
let me rub myself hazy on your thigh as you work and pretend like im not there except petting my hair from time to time… i want to rut against you and feel your resolve crumble until you just have to pay attention to me and ruin me
Have you ever visited Palestine ? if yes what were your favorite places that you’ve been to :)
First of all thank you so much for sending me this. I have been thinking about it all day and it brought so many good memories back!
Second, after giving it a lot of thought I realised it's impossible to pick just one favourite place so I chose two, and these would be Alquds and Salfit <3
I have been to Alquds a few times and they were mostly in Ramadan to pray at Al Aqsa. Walking up those steps and catching a glimpse of the golden dome in the distance is something I will never get over
Walking around the yards of the compound is always an experience, especially with the occasional fun moments during Eid or on super hot days when this happens
But I am honestly always my happiest when I’m around olive trees. Not to say I’m biased, but the olive groves of Salfit are actually the most beautiful. I mean, look
I can spend an eternity just sitting here. The smell of the soil is unmatched and, as we say, ترد الروح.
And I mean look at these green hills and tell me you don’t honestly think they are the most stunning
family portrait :D young sam and sybil are behaving themselves and vimes is throwing a hissy fit because they tried to make him wear the helmet
[id: a digital painting of three people sitting for a portrait in a domestic interior. young sam is standing with his hands behind his back and beaming proudly. vimes is standing behind him with his hand on his shoulder, wearing a shiny military uniform and a surly expression. sybil is sitting on the right with an arm around young sam, smiling at the viewer. a plumed helmet is sitting on a table on the left. end id.]
it mattered because when my brother asked me what if this is the happiest you'll ever be? the best you'll ever get? the thing i felt was fear, not peace. everybody thought you were so perfect for me. even i thought you were "helping me grow". i had to challenge every internal clock. make myself more thoughtful, more kind, more beautiful.
i told my therapist it was good because i like the changes i made and there's something so strong about saying i did that. the problem is that i can like the difference all i want, but i changed for you. something akin to getting your name tattooed, all my progress is stamped with fuck you.
it was the happiest i'd ever been and also the best i'd ever gotten. i would still get in the car and think what the fuck just happened.
Sometimes I think about queer love and get overwhelmed with all the joy and happieness I'm feeling and it's one of the best feelings I have ever felt <3