I had a striking moment the other day as a parent. My kids and I were gathered around the kitchen table, snacking on graham crackers while the radio played in the background. Suddenly, my preschooler and toddler began to tussle with each other. As their mother, I often find myself playing referee, so I quickly intervened. “Hey, no hitting! We don’t hit our brothers,” I admonished from across the table.
At that very moment, Donald Trump’s voice boomed from the radio. “I was gonna hit this guy so hard, his head would spin,” he remarked about a speaker at the Democratic National Convention. I immediately switched off the radio, not wanting my attempts to promote brotherly love to be drowned out by the rhetoric coming from a leading political figure.
This is what parenting looks like in the era of Donald Trump — balancing the lessons we aim to teach our children about kindness and respect while witnessing a major public figure behaving in stark contrast to those values. It isn’t the first time I’ve faced this dilemma. I remind my kids not to hurl insults at one another, even though one of the candidates for the highest office has taken to calling his opponents derogatory names, from “Lyin’ Ted” to “Little Marco” to “Crooked Hillary.” While I strive to instill respect, Trump is on the screen behind me, openly deriding a disabled reporter.
It’s disheartening to see a presidential candidate not meeting the standards of decency that I expect from my toddlers — be kind, choose your words carefully, don’t resort to violence. This behavior shapes the public discourse, and its implications extend far beyond sensational headlines. We may wish to shield our children from the harsher realities of life, but they are often more attuned to their surroundings than we realize. They hear the news in the background, catch snippets of press conferences on TV, and overhear discussions about politics among adults.
While we adults can dissect Trump’s statements and filter out the theatrics, children are likely to take his inflammatory language at face value, leading to serious consequences. Earlier this year, a mother in Fairfax County reported that her third-grade son faced bullying at school, with classmates taunting him that he would be deported if Trump was elected. The more discordant rhetoric our children hear, the more they may mimic it.
Even if Trump does not win the presidency, the repercussions of his divisive language will likely persist long after election day, which is a greater concern for me as a parent than as a citizen. He is already suggesting that the election could be rigged and subtly hinting to his supporters that they might take matters into their own hands if he loses. Such attitudes will inevitably trickle down from the political stage to the schoolyard and beyond.
It’s crucial to recognize that Trump is tapping into the frustrations of many Americans who feel left behind as the economy shifts. They need a voice, and he has become their megaphone. However, we’ve also seen how he treats those who oppose him, such as when he insulted a grieving mother of a fallen soldier. If this is how he responds to someone in pain, how can we expect him to empathize with the unemployed factory worker, the struggling parent unable to afford childcare, or the student burdened by college debt? Even when he addresses minority groups, I find myself turning off the radio, worried my children might mimic his charged language on the playground.
Currently, my kids are mostly oblivious to the political landscape, preferring to wrestle each other during their free time. While I don’t mind a little roughhousing, I’ve set some ground rules: no horse collaring, no hits to the face, no wrestling unless both parties agree, and definitely no kicking someone when they’re down. Yet, day after day, we witness Trump disregarding these basic principles, mercilessly mocking anyone who crosses his path.
Whoever takes office this fall will guide my children through their transition from home to preschool and then to elementary school, where they will learn about our nation’s founding principles of freedom, justice, and equal opportunity. I worry whether the lessons they receive in school will align with the world around them or if disdain will become the norm, making tales of tolerance and acceptance sound like relics of the past.
This election is not just about selecting a president; it’s a decision about the kind of discourse we wish to see from our leaders. We must determine whether the values we teach our children — kindness, respect, and understanding the consequences of their actions — are merely rules for compliance or foundational lessons for becoming responsible members of a thriving society. If it’s the latter, we cannot condone Donald Trump’s behavior.
To learn more about how political rhetoric can shape our children’s understanding of the world, check out this insightful piece on Cervical Insemination. If you’re also interested in at-home insemination options, you can find reputable kits at Make a Mom. For those considering pregnancy and fertility treatments, March of Dimes offers excellent resources.
In summary, as we navigate the complexities of parenting in today’s political climate, we must remain vigilant about the messages our children absorb and the kind of leaders we want to model for them.
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