The last issue of Mothering magazine (not to be confused with the most recent issue, featuring the lovely Ani DiFranco and her daughter, Petah) included an article condemning parents for involving their children in political activism. Though I normally like Mothering a lot, this particular article just made me angry.
I suppose I should start by saying that I strongly disagree with parenting that shelters kids from reality. I wasn’t a sheltered child, and my children are growing up with even more knowledge than I had at their ages — knowledge that is sometimes beautiful, sometimes upsetting, sometimes hilarious, and sometimes infuriating, just like the world itself. How can I teach my kids about all the difficult issues around them, if I cover their eyes and ears every waking moment, filtering all seriousness out of their lives? As I see it, I have precious little time in which to be the single most valuable influence on my children, and I am not going to waste a moment.
Talking about politics with my kids, something I started when my oldest was just about two, is a huge part of our lives. Contrary to the point of view expressed in the Mothering article (and elsewhere online), my daughter is not a sad child forced to grow old before her time. She is a bright and happy five year old who enjoys making mud pies and playing with her friends — and who can also converse with adults about Barack Obama, abortion rights, the environment, and war (among other things). Rather than destroying her child, political awareness has enhanced it by making her a more vocal, active participant in the world around her.
I feel the same about modeling activism for my children by involving them in protests, rallies, and volunteering. I don’t want them to think of activism as something mysterious that their mama does alone, while leaving them behind. I want them to experience the great feelings that come from joining with a group of people who are all passionate about an issue, not afraid to speak up and be counted, ready to make themselves heard. Not having been involved in those things as a child, I remember feeling intimidated when I first started — the kind of intimidation that could easily cause a person to back away entirely.
I want my kids to grow into happy, healthy adults, but I also want them to be politically aware and involved. And it’s never too soon to help them develop the good habits that will follow them into adulthood!
