Parenting Insights
Growing up, my experience of politics was defined by a single president. From my perspective as a child in the ’80s, political life lacked any real suspense. I was only five when President Reagan took office, and I don’t recall his election. The assassination attempt in early 1981 also slipped past me unnoticed.
What I do vividly remember are family dinners centered around watching the State of the Union addresses and other significant speeches—an event in itself! It was always a special occasion: “Kids, the President is on!” Typically, I found it annoying that my favorite shows were interrupted, but I watched those speeches nonetheless. My parents had a vested interest, and with limited viewing options, I understood on some level that these moments were capital-I Important.
Back in those days, politicians exuded a sense of dignity. The President’s televised appearances were notable events in an era devoid of 24-hour news cycles and social media. Aside from the occasional attack ad, a President was expected to embody statesmanship and gravitas.
Today, however, our children are growing up in a vastly different political landscape. They’ve missed the riveting events of our formative years, such as the sensational Clinton scandal of the 1990s or the nail-biting Bush-Gore election in 2000. Instead, they face the dramatic chaos of the 2016 election.
The current environment is marred by insults, violence, and a level of divisiveness that casts a long shadow over the political process. In our home, we don’t gather around the TV to witness these contentious debates. There’s little about this campaign that inspires us to convey to our kids, “This is important work. These leaders have critical viewpoints. This is worth watching.” Instead, we find ourselves sitting at the dinner table with the television off, engaging in discussions not just about political issues but also about the essential civility we expect from ourselves, our fellow citizens, and our leaders. My children are aware of the political climate, even if we’re not watching it together.
I often ponder how this election—etched in the memories of my 10, 8, and 5-year-olds—will shape their perspectives. Will they see this election as an anomaly? Will they grow to accept politics as a never-ending cycle of mudslinging, or will they aspire to have leaders who command their respect, regardless of political agreement?
For a child of the ’80s, politics may have seemed boring, but perhaps that was due to the elevated standards we held. We were genuinely concerned about the Cold War; I recall asking my parents about the threat of nuclear war and beginning to follow the U.S.-Soviet arms control talks as they intensified in the late ’80s. Remember the significance of Reagan and Gorbachev’s meetings about nuclear disarmament?
While I feared the potential for nuclear conflict, I never worried that my President might say something reckless at those summits or act impulsively against an enemy. I trusted that the President would behave responsibly. Like most Americans, my primary concern was whether the Soviets shared our desire to mitigate the global threat looming over both our nations.
Today’s children face their own anxieties, though they may not grasp the Cold War’s historical context; to them, it’s a relic of the past. Their fears are rooted in terrorism and extremist threats. The specter of September 11 looms larger for them than the Cold War ever did for me. They also contend with the fear of school shootings and public violence; we didn’t practice lockdown drills in the ’80s.
There will always be frightening realities. However, our politicians—the very individuals we rely on for representation and guidance—should not be among them. We shouldn’t have to shield our children from the volatility and crudeness of our leaders. It’s imperative that we have adults acting like adults and leaders who exhibit maturity.
My hope for my children is that they can trust our political institutions, our elected officials, and our President to be deserving of our respect. Perhaps one day, like my parents did, I could turn on a debate or a presidential address and bore my kids with the genuine, reliable statesmanship that once defined political discourse. If I could cast my vote for that kind of future, I certainly would.
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Summary
The political landscape has shifted dramatically since the author’s childhood in the ’80s, moving from a time of perceived statesmanship to one marked by chaos and divisiveness. As parents, there’s a deep desire for political leaders who exemplify maturity and earn our respect, ensuring a better future for our children.
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