My daughter is 12, soon to be 13, and was paying closer attention than I thought too. She came home on Wednesday livid with her classmates because they were happy with the election results. We live in a depressed city, high poverty rates, many POC, especially Puerto Ricans and other Hispanics, where the school system just provides free breakfast and lunch for everyone because so much of the student population would qualify for food assistance anyway. The disinformation had somehow reached the level of those pre-teens and teens believing that Harris would cancel Christmas and extend the school day by 2 hours every day. I can't imagine what their parents believe. She could not believe they were that stupid. I hadn't thought she was interested at all, in spite of discussions at home, but she was paying attention. She was worried for her friends who were trans or non-binary. She let them know that her parents are safe for them. Her paternal grandfather had relatives who survived the Nazis. Her maternal family have ties to those sent to the Japanese Internment camps in the US. She knows what's at stake. It's the best I can offer, that some of us know what's at stake.
my heart is heavy. tomorrow, a 99yo auschwitz survivor is going to talk to our kids at school. part of the german “erinnerungskultur”. my son will be part of the panel moderating the questions. i am very proud and very sad and very angry and also hopeful. if this one man can continue to fight hate, fear, and dumbfuckery, so must we. hope is not delusional, it is the only logical choice. there is so much art and beauty and love and goodness left to fight for…
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree; your daughter is an insightful writer, as you are, at a young age. And the ties to the Sound of Music does hit home today. For her to realize that, is amazing! You’ve raised her (and her siblings) to be aware and involved, even though at times it’s a tough path. There has to be a way through the next four years, as difficult as it may seem. And, as always, thanks for sharing.
I've been in mild shock since Tuesday. Mild because I knew it was going to be him. This country won't elect a woman, let alone a black woman, to be President. They'd rather have the rapist, con, swindler white dude. For everyone saying "this is not my America"? Oh, but it is. This is baked in. This country was birthed from the blood of Natives and literally raised on the back of stolen people. It's ALWAYS been a white males world. But now that they seen they're losing ground, they're freaking the fuck out. This is what we get when white men know that their time is up. When they finally know this place doesn't fucking revolve around them. So here we all are, again, to continue to fight for everyone's rights, again. All I have to say is it's time to put your big kid boots back on, we have lots of work ahead.
I'm 70 and I remember when I was 13. It was during the Vietnam War. I remember there was a song Silent Night and the words to a news story during the song. I didn't feel like Christmas. My mother knew this and tried to offer some hope. I just remember that intense feeling that so many boys aren't coming home. And that war was wrong.
Out of the mouths of babes ... really important words from a young person who we all hope will get a chance to steer this country and the world to a better place. It's definitely on the shoulders of the adults in the room to do everything we can now to be sure our kids, grandkids and great grandkids get this chance.
My hope is to start an education initiative... Think basic Schoolhouse Rock style... To teach how politics and parts of government actually work, what the different jobs are supposed to be, how inflation works, etc. I want to get content creators involved and present it on social media where people actually look for information.
Nathan, my friend, your daughters are amazing. The kids will get us through.
Your thirteen year old daughter is a lot more politically aware than I was at that age, way back in the early 1970s. You were also more aware for much longer than I was regarding what has been emerging in the US, I guess that's why this item of yours, and what your daughter wrote as well, has hit me so hard. I live in the UK, where for the last fourteen years millions of households have suffered the hardship of Conservative government policies. We had our General Election back in July of this year, many thought when the result was announced that the Labour party had won, that things would improve. But, over the last few months we have seen this new government embrace more and more of the attitude and policies of the Conservative government. The struggle is continuing, the most vulnerable, low-income households are still being punished for being poor, the wealthy are still holding onto their assets and incomes. Please talk to your daughter, and tell her that this sixty-six year old Englishman approves of what she's written. I'm glad that she is more politically aware than I was at her age, and that's a great thing to possess. I have one piece of advice for her, look back on the track record of every political party, look at what they promised, and look at what they ended up doing. Then when she comes to vote, vote for the party that genuinely cares about every American citizen, and wants to truly protect the essence of what it is to be a human being. Here I will give you and your family some words of advice my mother gave me when I was six or seven years old, "Everybody's different, but we are all human beings".
My youngest is also 13 and we have good reason to be proud, you and I. His mother and I have always tried to instill in him a sense of justice and kindness, urging him since Pre-K to look for the kids on the margins and alone and different and to be their friend. As he has grown, his friend group has grown into a diverse and rag-tag bunch of weird and beautiful outsiders and we couldn't be more proud. As I've driven him to school every morning for the last week, our conversation remains centered around kindness and solidarity with those who are different, but they have taken on a greater sense of urgency. We live in a very red corner of a very red state but we remain hopeful that if we stand together with those who would resist the darkness and hate, we can make a difference. Thank you for your words, Father Nathan. They are much needed.
Your daughter, like you, is a wonderful writer. I’ve paid attention to your writing and know you are correct about what we will become. I will do what I can so your daughter, and mine will have a better future. Thank you for all you do. It is appreciated
You have nurtured your children quite well! Your thirteen-year-old daughter is an excellent writer and might follow in your footsteps! Wow, what insight for a young one!
My sleeves are rolled up! My hip boots are on because on this journey, we will all muster through a lot of crap!
I watched from here in Canada. I cried at the results. There are family and friends of mine in the US who are so vulnerable. Keep being the beacon of light in the darkness and hug your kids for me. Parent to Parent, you have done an awesome job.
Your daughter is a good writer.
My daughter is 12, soon to be 13, and was paying closer attention than I thought too. She came home on Wednesday livid with her classmates because they were happy with the election results. We live in a depressed city, high poverty rates, many POC, especially Puerto Ricans and other Hispanics, where the school system just provides free breakfast and lunch for everyone because so much of the student population would qualify for food assistance anyway. The disinformation had somehow reached the level of those pre-teens and teens believing that Harris would cancel Christmas and extend the school day by 2 hours every day. I can't imagine what their parents believe. She could not believe they were that stupid. I hadn't thought she was interested at all, in spite of discussions at home, but she was paying attention. She was worried for her friends who were trans or non-binary. She let them know that her parents are safe for them. Her paternal grandfather had relatives who survived the Nazis. Her maternal family have ties to those sent to the Japanese Internment camps in the US. She knows what's at stake. It's the best I can offer, that some of us know what's at stake.
my heart is heavy. tomorrow, a 99yo auschwitz survivor is going to talk to our kids at school. part of the german “erinnerungskultur”. my son will be part of the panel moderating the questions. i am very proud and very sad and very angry and also hopeful. if this one man can continue to fight hate, fear, and dumbfuckery, so must we. hope is not delusional, it is the only logical choice. there is so much art and beauty and love and goodness left to fight for…
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree; your daughter is an insightful writer, as you are, at a young age. And the ties to the Sound of Music does hit home today. For her to realize that, is amazing! You’ve raised her (and her siblings) to be aware and involved, even though at times it’s a tough path. There has to be a way through the next four years, as difficult as it may seem. And, as always, thanks for sharing.
I've been in mild shock since Tuesday. Mild because I knew it was going to be him. This country won't elect a woman, let alone a black woman, to be President. They'd rather have the rapist, con, swindler white dude. For everyone saying "this is not my America"? Oh, but it is. This is baked in. This country was birthed from the blood of Natives and literally raised on the back of stolen people. It's ALWAYS been a white males world. But now that they seen they're losing ground, they're freaking the fuck out. This is what we get when white men know that their time is up. When they finally know this place doesn't fucking revolve around them. So here we all are, again, to continue to fight for everyone's rights, again. All I have to say is it's time to put your big kid boots back on, we have lots of work ahead.
I'm 70 and I remember when I was 13. It was during the Vietnam War. I remember there was a song Silent Night and the words to a news story during the song. I didn't feel like Christmas. My mother knew this and tried to offer some hope. I just remember that intense feeling that so many boys aren't coming home. And that war was wrong.
Out of the mouths of babes ... really important words from a young person who we all hope will get a chance to steer this country and the world to a better place. It's definitely on the shoulders of the adults in the room to do everything we can now to be sure our kids, grandkids and great grandkids get this chance.
My hope is to start an education initiative... Think basic Schoolhouse Rock style... To teach how politics and parts of government actually work, what the different jobs are supposed to be, how inflation works, etc. I want to get content creators involved and present it on social media where people actually look for information.
Nathan, my friend, your daughters are amazing. The kids will get us through.
Your thirteen year old daughter is a lot more politically aware than I was at that age, way back in the early 1970s. You were also more aware for much longer than I was regarding what has been emerging in the US, I guess that's why this item of yours, and what your daughter wrote as well, has hit me so hard. I live in the UK, where for the last fourteen years millions of households have suffered the hardship of Conservative government policies. We had our General Election back in July of this year, many thought when the result was announced that the Labour party had won, that things would improve. But, over the last few months we have seen this new government embrace more and more of the attitude and policies of the Conservative government. The struggle is continuing, the most vulnerable, low-income households are still being punished for being poor, the wealthy are still holding onto their assets and incomes. Please talk to your daughter, and tell her that this sixty-six year old Englishman approves of what she's written. I'm glad that she is more politically aware than I was at her age, and that's a great thing to possess. I have one piece of advice for her, look back on the track record of every political party, look at what they promised, and look at what they ended up doing. Then when she comes to vote, vote for the party that genuinely cares about every American citizen, and wants to truly protect the essence of what it is to be a human being. Here I will give you and your family some words of advice my mother gave me when I was six or seven years old, "Everybody's different, but we are all human beings".
My goodness, she is wise beyond her years...obviously, you have done a great job raising the kids to cope with this changing world...
My youngest is also 13 and we have good reason to be proud, you and I. His mother and I have always tried to instill in him a sense of justice and kindness, urging him since Pre-K to look for the kids on the margins and alone and different and to be their friend. As he has grown, his friend group has grown into a diverse and rag-tag bunch of weird and beautiful outsiders and we couldn't be more proud. As I've driven him to school every morning for the last week, our conversation remains centered around kindness and solidarity with those who are different, but they have taken on a greater sense of urgency. We live in a very red corner of a very red state but we remain hopeful that if we stand together with those who would resist the darkness and hate, we can make a difference. Thank you for your words, Father Nathan. They are much needed.
Thank you, and thank your daughter for allowing you to share that with us. <sniff>
Your daughter, like you, is a wonderful writer. I’ve paid attention to your writing and know you are correct about what we will become. I will do what I can so your daughter, and mine will have a better future. Thank you for all you do. It is appreciated
You rare raising a wonderful daughter.
You have nurtured your children quite well! Your thirteen-year-old daughter is an excellent writer and might follow in your footsteps! Wow, what insight for a young one!
My sleeves are rolled up! My hip boots are on because on this journey, we will all muster through a lot of crap!
Hello, Hate won the election and I’m heartbroken. We need to go beyond resistance into full on rebellion
I watched from here in Canada. I cried at the results. There are family and friends of mine in the US who are so vulnerable. Keep being the beacon of light in the darkness and hug your kids for me. Parent to Parent, you have done an awesome job.