I hadn’t intended to make a political statement—I simply wanted my kids to enjoy themselves. But that day showed me that fun and history aren’t always separate. A few months after the parade, my daughter asked, “Why do people still like the queen if she wasn’t nice to everyone?” In that moment, a deeper, more meaningful conversation began. Her question revealed how even joyful experiences can spark critical thinking and curiosity about the world around us.

That day taught me a lesson I hadn’t expected: joy and discomfort can exist side by side. As a parent, my role isn’t to protect my children from difficult truths, but to guide them through understanding them. It’s not always easy, and we won’t always have the perfect answers, but what matters is our willingness to keep engaging and learning together.