I have spent many years of my adult life trying to navigate how to discuss politics with friends, coworkers, customers and the like. The rule of thumb has always been that politics and pretty much anything else just don’t mix. I know that between me and my two brothers we always have at least three opinions on any current newsworthy situation, possibly more. That can lead to some very heated dinner table conversations in my home. In my classroom, I am sure to try to present politically charged situations in a fair and balanced manner and allow my students to draw their own conclusions. This is a task that is not always easy, but certainly worth the effort.
But with our own children, how do we decide what is and is not appropriate to discuss? I remember when 9/11 happened (as I’m sure we all do) and I was watching my friends with children try to navigate how to discuss such a disaster with their young children. I also remember being thankful at the time that I didn’t have children with whom I had to discuss horrific events like that. Now, however, I do. As much as my husband and I may try to keep certain things from them, our daughters are aware of what is happening on the news. We have to be cautious of who is in the room when we turn on news channels. Children this age absorb everything, and because of this, they need help processing it. I noticed this during last year’s presidential election cycle. Both of my girls were very passionate about who they would vote for if given the chance, and they were happy to tell anyone who would listen. One of my nephews had even figured out that the best way to get under his parents’ skin was to proudly announce that he loved the candidate they abhorred. But that was national news. It was on every channel at all times of the day. Surely my daughters’ acute awareness of politics could be explained by the enormity of that particular election cycle.
As I am many times when it comes to my children, I was mistaken. We have a very heated set of local elections that will be decided tomorrow. Every open seat on City Council and School Board as well as the State House seat are contested races. There is also an issue on the ballot regarding the passing of a General Obligation Bond to support the local school system. While these races have not made national headlines, they have become a topic of discussion at every dinner party, every play date and everywhere in between in our small town. When we are in the car, I can’t just ask my girls to ignore all of the yard signs and banners that they see. So, we talk about them. My husband and I have chosen to support certain candidates and issues and not others. As a part of that, we have attended campaign events and put signs in our yard and wear buttons on occasion. We have also chosen to discuss with our girls why we vote certain ways of for particular people. All this to say, both of our daughters are aware of the local political issues and how we feel about them. It is hard to know, though, how much we are letting our own opinions influence their own. Do they like or dislike certain candidates only because that is what they have heard us say? I have found my oldest repeating words I have said in a completely different context than what they were intended for initially. Apparently, I am not presenting the same fair and balanced information to my own children as I do to my students.
I’m not entirely sure that this is a bad thing, but it is something to bear in mind when talking to your children. Give them information, let them be a part of the process. I have always taken my girls with me when I vote. (The poll workers are more than happy to give them a sticker each time!) Just be cautioned that they need to hear both sides of an issue, explained on their level. Tell them how you feel, let them know why you are passionate about it. Be sure, however, to give them the freedom to form their own opinions. I promise that your dinner conversations will be all the more lively because of it.
So, as you go to vote tomorrow, and I hope that everyone reading this does, take your children with you. Talk to them about their role in the political process. Empower them to use their voices and stand behind what they say. Also teach them to respect and value the opinions of those that disagree with them. Show them that politics and family can actually mix. They will be be better people for it.