hoosier mama

By Farrah Alexander

OM , DO YOU LIKE DONALD TRUNK ?” my four-year-old son asked with a somber , quizzical expression .

My son , with his limited knowledge of our nation ’ s current polarity , couldn ’ t have possibly understood what a loaded question this was . Although I ’ m pretty passionate about political issues , I tend to shield my children from civil discourse . At least until after kindergarten .

But I knew my son needed an answer to this question , which was very simple in his mind . He ’ s starting to grasp new concepts such as that he lives in the United States . Also , we have a president of the United States who sits in a very prestigious looking office and wears suits . Also , his mom doesn ’ t seem to like the president very much , which is strange because she seems to like everyone .

One week before the 2016 presidential election , I wrote a piece published on HuffPost and Scary Mommy with the headline “ I Have to be Able to Tell My Children I Stood Against Trump .” In the piece , I discussed why I felt a personal responsibility as a parent to do everything I can to prevent a Trump presidency :

“ I believe after our children learn of the atrocities committed by Trump and the carnage left behind by his vile campaign , they ’ ll then look to us – as survivors of the 2016 election – and want to know how we felt . More than that , what did we do about it ?”

Honestly , I never genuinely considered the possibility of Trump actually winning . I felt assured by Nate Silver ’ s projections that Clinton would win by a large margin . But beyond poll numbers , I really just had enough faith in the American people that they would not elect someone who spewed vitriol and embraced such intolerance . And yet , here we are and my son is asking if I like Donald Trunk .

It ’ s quite the parenting dilemma . I have to explain to my children that while Trump holds our nation ’ s highest office , I hope they never grow up to be like him .

I may have differing political opinions than Trump , but that has no bearing on my opinion of him . If my son asked about George W . Bush , I would choose to talk about how he sought to unite our country after the most horrific terrorist attack most of us had ever seen . If my son asked about Barack Obama , I would discuss how he worked so audaciously his entire life to break down walls and became the first black president . Even if he asked about a presidential candidate such as John McCain , who I didn ’ t vote for , I would discuss his tremendous courage and bravery in an utterly hopeless scenario .

I plan to teach my children to treat everyone they encounter with respect , regardless of religion , gender , nationality , sexuality , race , disability or any other inherent differences . They are neither inferior nor superior to their peers . I ’ ll encourage them to treat others as they would like to be treated and choose to be kind .

When I see Trump mocking a disabled reporter , hear him bragging about committing sexual assault and read his callous insults on Twitter , these are all examples of how I raise my children not to behave .

I believe the Maya Angelou adage that when someone shows you who they are , believe them the first time . With Trump ’ s position of high visibility , I know my kids will be exposed to both his past transgressions and his future offenses . I ’ m not a total pessimist , but I ’ m not hopeful that Trump will suddenly put a stop to the same vile behavior that brought him into the political realm .

Many have accused Trump of acting like a toddler . As a parent of a toddler , I find this assertion completely absurd . My toddler is more mild mannered , sweeter and doesn ’ t whine nearly as much .

I understand my children will likely see Trump as someone who has had fame , fortune and now the oval office . After all , his name alone is plastered in large gold letters on the sides of skyscrapers in most major tourist destinations . Many people probably view such success as a goal to aspire towards . So , I know it ’ s difficult to tell my children not to emulate the behavior of someone in such a unique position of power .

68 EXTOL • JUNE / JULY 2017