Monique Gray Smith: You Hold Me Up
In the author’s note to You Hold Me Up, Monique Gray Smith links the theme of reciprocal caring to reconciliation in relation to the history of Canada’s residential schools. She encourages compassionate acknowledgement of the painful history of those experiences and offers ways to move forward with dignity, respect and recognition of our common humanity.
You Hold Me Up uses simple language and everyday situations to portray the diverse ways young people feel cared about by the people they love.
The Dalai Lama Centre’s Heart Mind Online website lists five activities based on the story, with links to expand on the activities:
1. Make a “how to hold me” list: This involves helping children brainstorm a reference list of situations where they experience a need to feel support, and what support would look like to them in those situations.
2. Turn a family story into art: Helping children to recall a caring story from their family’s past and create an artwork to honour the story.
3. Create “you hold me up” gratitude cards: Inviting children to create a thank you artwork or message for the people the child perceives as a support in their life.
4. Plant a heart garden for reconciliation: Helping children learn about the Honoring Memories, Planting Dreams movement, and planting a “heart garden”.
5. Hold other up: Inviting children to think about someone to whom they would like to offer support and affirmation, and helping them to build an action plan for one small, kind thing they can do for that person.