Did you talk to your kids about MLK day? About the Trump inauguration?
Yes and no, respectively, for me.
I don't believe in pounding my politics into my young children’s forming brains. I really don't. I believe pretty strongly in the responsibility of raising kids who can think for themselves. I think far too many parents with strong political beliefs on all sides expend far too much energy making sure their children hold the same exact views as they do. Tribalism in sports is one thing. I love to see my friends who are diehard Lakers or Whitesox fans with their kids at a ballgame in matching outfits. But transferring your tribal politics to young, impressionable children is misguided. Too many parrot kids out here. Parrot kids who grow up to join tribes, make more parrot children, and the cycle continues. But for me, politics and values are two very different things. My kids don't need constant updates on the latest political developments in the Middle East to understand our family stands against violence and dehumanization and that we are for human rights and freedom. Those are our values. The rest are just details. Like most kids around the US today, my 3 young sons were home in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. In our house, the day started with pancakes and chicken apple sausage. With cartoons, a little bit of piano practice, excessive rounds of Mario Cart, roller skating up and down the living room, and lots of wrestling. After lunch, when the wild energies had settled a bit, the boys gathered around my wife, who, without grand announcement or excessive prelude, read a staple in our household: an illustrated edition of Dr. King's 'I Have a Dream' speech, by the acclaimed artist Kadir Nelson.
The scene was beautiful and chaotic and precious, as you might expect. I wasn't going to ruin the moment by burdening them with the extreme irony that is today. That while some celebrate a moral giant, the nation is inaugurating a small man into the highest office. Where Nazi salutes are back out in the open, apparently. Yes, I am very clear. That’s the reality we are in. But no, I didn’t feel the need for my kids to process those contradictions. Instead, I herded the boys into the car, and we headed to our town's local YMCA, which is holding an MLK family event. As I finish this post, they are running, bouncing, and squealing with joy alongside dozens and dozens of other kids from all different backgrounds and cultures. Pretty fitting for the day, I think. And the inauguration or the Nazi salute or any of the rest of the bullshit didn’t make news in my household. Those are details for another day.