Politics and motherhood

The vote is in.

I am feeling relieved because it has taken a lot of strength not to get sucked into the fanatical Facebook rants that have taken over my feed.  I am grateful for that patience. I’m grateful for it because I have not always had to deal with politics or much of anything.

I attribute motherhood for this relatively newfound virtue.  I’d like to say it has changed me, but I think it is more accurate to say that it has unlocked the potential of the person I have always hoped to be.  I feel that becoming a mother has helped me find compassion and tolerance for topics I found annoying.  I think part of it comes from respecting the personal choices one needs to make in order to be the best mother they can be (which may not be the same choice I would make).

Another part comes from shelving my ego so I can be there for my children in a way that often has my dignity a distant second to their needs.  Also, knowing that each candidate was once held in his mother’s arms and was her whole world helps me see each as a human being rather than a caricature of their represented party.  Not to mention, some people that I love very much don’t always hold the same opinion as me, and because I value our relationships, I strive to see our similarities rather than our differences.

I’m not saying that I don’t feel strongly about my personal political views; I’m just trying to have some tolerance for those who have different views than me.

I have tried to use this election as an example for my children of why it is important to have a basic respect for others.  I want them to develop their own believes, but equally essential is the lesson of tolerance (and hopefully acceptance) for people who have opposite viewpoints.  I think that more progress is made when the focus is on how we’re alike, not our differences.

How has parenthood changed your stance on how you approach politics?