OOPS

Ashtyn has spent much of her time this weekend drawing flags from other countries.  I don't know why she has become fascinated with this- but she has drawn pages and pages of flags.  Last night we were talking to Jeff's parents on Skype and she showed them all of the beautiful flags she had drawn.  One flag in particular that looks like this:

This is the flag for the country Niger in Western Africa.  However when she showed them this flag she said this is from the country Nigg** ( I can't even type that word because it is so offensive- but you understand).

My in-law's kind of chuckled- so Ashtyn asked what was so funny(or not so funny).  They explained to her it was because the way she pronounced the word was incorrect and the word she said was a very unkind word for someone with dark skin- that we should never use.

That night at dinner she asked us about it again and we talked a little bit more about why that word is so offensive.  To which Ethan replies "OH Ashtyn and you said that word right in front of Nana and she has brown skin!" That made all of us laugh because Jeff's mother is white.  She has very olive skin and compared to his dad she does look a little dark.  Here is a picture of them on their mission.  My father in law is in the middle and you can see how Ethan might think what he does:

 I am actually happy that the kids did not know what that word meant- I hope they never fully understand that word and can always treat every color of skin with the same respect because we are all from the same race- the human race.