u003cpu003eu003cstrongu003eu003cemu003eBy Thomas Claiborn, Prevent Child Abuse Arizona Parent Advisory Council Memberu003c/emu003eu003c/strongu003eu003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eu003ca href=u0022https://pcaaz.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Thomas-Claiborn.pngu0022u003eu003cimg class=u0022size-medium wp-image-10172 alignleftu0022 src=u0022https://pcaaz.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Thomas-Claiborn.pngu0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022168u0022 height=u0022300u0022 /u003eu003c/au003e4D means “we are Different by Design but Dynamic by Decision.” We’re ‘different by design’ means that we all have different strengths, perspectives, and experiences. ‘Dynamic by decision’ shows us that these differences, when grouped together, inform the best decisions made for humanity.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eI don’t know if we have any better picture of good and bad decisions made by differences than the American Story. My family and I recently had the opportunity to watch “Hamilton” where we watched the paralleled life of two orphaned friends, Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton, as a revolution took place a new nation was born. These two men never quite learned how to use their differences for the greater good of humanity, but instead their own selfish ambition led to the unfortunate homicide of Hamilton being killed by Burr. This left Hamilton’s wife a widow and Aaron Burr a villain in the history books.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eIn our household, part of our parenting to win strategy is to stay on mission. Our purpose as parents is to educate, impact, and lead our children to aim beyond success (which focuses on adding value to oneself) to significance (which focuses on adding value to others).u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eYet, due to our history, we find ourselves in a world divided by fear, pride, and ignorance, lacking cross cultural engagement which ultimately keeps us from reaching our full potential as the human race.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eu003cimg class=u0022size-medium wp-image-10144 alignrightu0022 src=u0022https://pcaaz.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/pexels-august-de-richelieu-4260105.jpgu0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022300u0022 height=u0022200u0022 /u003eu003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eWe are all faced with the question: u0022how we dismantle the perverted powers of racism and break down the barriers of systemic oppression that works against our children’s success?u0022u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eOur world is in great need of a revolution. We have a lot of work ahead of us, and it starts with our children in our homes and in our communities. How do we develop an environment in which all children will grow in boldness, confidence, and access to opportunities for their well-being?u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eI suggest that we do that by 4D Parenting - focusing on reminding our children that they are unique, different, and complex. This reality was designed to be a source of complement, not conflict.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003eWe can coach and model for them what it looks like to be aware of, acknowledge, and appreciate our differences so we can make better decisions that benefit us all. Skin color, ethnicity, customs, language, temperaments, and personalities are a few ways we are different. We are different by design, but dynamic by decision. If we all start viewing the world in 4D, I think we can win.u003c/pu003ernu003cpu003e#2020 Visionu003c/pu003e
