Thanks everyone, we really appreciate the support! I posted this on my FB page and wanted to share it here, too:
Duckie and I have spent a lot of time recently talking about the Great Depression (and what lead up to it) since she was cast in Annie this spring. My father was born during the Depression and his father was raised in an orphanage in London. All my grandparents emigrated from abroad. We've talked about war in Europe, the dustbowl, and the great market crash. We've talked about the suffering of average Americans... ragged, hungry and homeless. Living in a shanty.
We've talked about the importance of hope and optimism... of finding solutions rather than finding blame. And Duckie, in the sort of wisdom that only a child can possess, said we need more hope today... and more kindness and less blame.
You think when your child is starting an activity that they will learn and grow and have fun. And she has... but we've gained a lot more than that too. She understands more about her family, is caring more toward those that are suffering.
What an uplifting experience this has been!