Regardless of where you stand, today is one for the history books. I just finished watching our new President address the nation. You can probably deduce from my posts, but I didn’t vote for President Trump. However, I am an American, so I watched his inauguration.

What I heard was a populist address at the center of an ailing system. What I saw was a peaceful transition of power despite the division among the people. It made me remember why America is so fantastic.

We may not all agree with the new President, but let’s not lose sight of the fact that we are free to disagree. Tomorrow, women around the country will march for their rights. To make statement. A statement we’re able to make.

My strong-willed, six year old daughter has recently shown a fascination with history, in particular women in history. Over the winter break, she literally slept with a biography of Malala Yousafzai. I’d find her up past her bedtime, holding a small lantern, pouring over her story again and again. It opened up discussions about bravery, standing up for what is right, and our role as citizens in a free country.

Earlier this week, I took both my girls to the library. As we pulled into the parking lot, my little one announced she would be getting a book on Colonial times and Sacagawea. She did that and more. Her sister wound up with a biography on Abigail Adams.

Their choices got me thinking: we’re all beginning a new chapter in Amerian history together. There is excitement. There is dread. But the people of our nation are also awake from a dangerous slumber. People in both camps are ready for change, for action. I think that’s something worth noting. We are all part of this moment in history.

So what will you do with it? At our house, we’re reading. We’re learning.We’re talking.

Can I be so bold as to challenge you to do the same?  Visit the library with your children this week. Browse the non-fiction and reference sections together. Or go alone. Take home a book on an event or historical figure you may not know much about. An understanding of where we’ve come from will shape our decisions moving forward.

What’s more, the library is free and open to all. That means every parent in this country has a way to prepare the next generation of voters to decide for themselves what issues matter to them, which policies they agree with and which ones they don’t.

We are living in a new age, where discernment is imperative and communication is more important than ever. It’s a new chapter for America.  Let’s all help write it.