11/10/2023
Compassion starts here. Luna with Esmé on her 1st birthday, a beautiful moment captured by .photo
Of course, this moment would not occur with Hank the Goat (his personal past makes him feel a bit defensive around anyone his height or smaller), but with many of our animal friends, Esmé has experienced the opportunity to bond and have genuine connections and mutual affection (safety first, always, of course! Like humans, even kindness does not negate unpredictable reactions or movements).
Hoping she remembers these friends fondly and continues to confidently advocate. Going to school in a rural community has led to many a discussion about lunches and friends. It’s also involved “meat” drives (?), chick hatching programs, and other such experiences. We have used them as learning opportunities on both ends - how to express her thoughts and how to ask “but why?” and opportunities to educate without isolating herself. We don’t live in a vegan world (here’s hoping!), so her ability to broach these subjects with compassion in her voice has been really important.
Equally important has been giving her opportunities to engage with other vegan kids when we can as for awhile there she may have thought she was the only one!
