I have knots in my stomach about this past election. I literally lay sleepless last night thinking about changes to come and how they would or wouldn’t effect my family, my girls. Truthfully I don’t have enough knowledge about government policy to be sure of any outcomes either way, so in an effort to completely understand I’m making an early resolution to become more knowledgeable, to put down my pleasure reading for a while every week and pick up a newspaper, or watch the news (why is that so hard?).
Brandon voted while Lilly paraded around outside yelling, “I voted! I voted!”
My Dad saw these pictures and instantly said, “That explains Dora taking an early lead.” and I laughed out loud. Lilly’s world is so simple.
But two very important little people will be effected by the events of this weeks electoral decision and there is no escaping the panicky feeling I have about the world they will grow up in (not even in regards to this presidency in particular, just in general). I often turn a blind eye toward politics, the news, and current events media in general. I mean what does all that have to do with playtime and reading a few chapters of a book and getting the laundry done? I don’t WANT to spend time worrying. I don’t WANT to make informed decisions that force me to consider the well being of my family and my children. But I know that I need to.
I have faith in the village of support I’m hoping to give my girls in the people that surround them. If a part of their future world crumbles, I have faith that our village will lift them up.
And at the risk of starting conversations that many may wish not to have, I have to ask you all: How, how, how can you be married to someone with a different political opinion than yours? Doesn’t that come down to different core, fundamental values? Different family priorities? How can those things be on opposite sides of the political spectrum but coexist peacefully enough to have a happy marriage? I’d love to hear your thoughts (even annonymously) because I really can’t stop thinking about it. So many of my friends have posted on facebook, “time to cancel out each other’s votes again” “well I’m happy but my husbands not” “time for another fight at the poles” and it just baffles me. I could never let it go if Brandon and I differed in opinion on the issues that are so important to us. Shed some light? K, thanks.
Another thought to leave you with, at the risk of sounding cliche yet again, “It’s time we not only think about leaving a better world for our children, but leaving better children for our world.” Think about it.
In that regard, I am currently teaching Lilly the value of hard work by actually putting her to work collecting kindling for the fire. Gotta stay warm somehow!
That is all.
mommybootcamp says
I can definitely understand your stress. Vince and I actually have different political views, as do my parents. We’ve come to the agreement that we don’t talk politics unless its about some social issue that’s we feel that needs to be discussed. We’re able to get along about politics because we have the same core values but differ about economical issues. let’s just say, we agree to disagree. I think it also helps that this election we both hated Ryan equally. It also helps that Vince is more a liberal/green party candidate supporter than a republican and is always willing to listen to all points.
And Foster Makes 5 says
I’m sure you know that I love this post š I could not agree with you more, on all counts. I would never be close-minded enough to blame all of our nation’s problems on one man, but I am more unsure than ever, given the outcome of the election. I respect anyone who is educated or even enlightened in politics, and don’t begrudge anyone for their opinions. However, my family and I had begun making many plans with the belief that our nation would be heading in a new direction. It is discouraging for us that things aren’t going to be as planned, and thus our goals must be reconfigured. As far as the relationship issue, my husband and I had the same conversation last night! While we both vote republican, he is certainly a more passionate supporter than am I. I asked if he would have married me had I not been conservative, and he explained that it would have completely redefined the person that I am and the way that I look at the world… not for better or worse, just different. Whether or not that is true, I guess it is just one more reason that we found one another. In our case, opposites did not attract, but it certainly works for some couples!
Lindsay says
I’m happy that my husband more or less shares my political views. He’s a little but more fiscally conservative than I am but we went to the polls together and happily voted for the same person. I very seriously dated a guy in college who I still adore and consider a good friend but ultimately our relationship was actually ruined over politics. I’m predominately liberal with a few moderate opinions and he was socially liberal but had far more conservative views than I could wrap my head around. I support our troops and appreciate the sacrifice they make to give us great lives back home but I’m selfish and don’t think I could ever be an army wife, which is what he wanted me to be. Our future plans were too different and we struggled with making compromises but eventually decided it was better to see other people. So, to answer your question simply: no, I can’t imagine marrying someone who doesn’t share my same core (political, social, economic) values.
Martha says
I definitely could not marry someone with completely different politics views than myself. At this point in my life, I believe that your politic views are really influenced by many of your core values. For me, marriage is strengthened by two individuals with similar core values, so per my logic, the same political beliefs. That is not the say we don’t both have different issues which we are more passionate about – my fiance is slightly more libertarian than I, while I am more concerned with the social issues supported by the conservative politicians. I agree with And Foster Makes 5 – my family and I have definitely changed our planning for the long haul, under the belief that our nation has changed direction over the past decade.