One thing for me that will be interesting with an 18 and a 21 year old is that they all of a sudden (kidding) have their own political opinions that don’t always align exactly with mine. Learning to have uncomfortable conversations, knowing when to push back, and also listening to them and learning from them are all part of my plan as I dive into 2024.
I feel safer knowing we have Sarah and Beth in common. I think it is good to have discussions with openness and curiosity, not to change another person. It can be challenging in some settings. I admire your desire to give it a try.
“My political engagement is connected to parenting so not talking about the election with you wouldn’t make sense....We need places where we can take refuge from the onslaught of political coverage. But there’s a difference between coverage and conversation.”
YES YES! Great way of thinking about the coming year, and I’m honored to be mentioned here!
Another stress reduction tactic: I just unsubscribed from every political & campaign mailing list, and searched/deleted all their emails from my inbox. (It took about an hour.) My political engagement includes donating to causes/campaigns I want to support; *not* being buried in email.
It feels quite revolutionary to discover I can make these sorts of adjustments. In other words, engaging on my own terms. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
My kids and I are on the same political page, and always have been. I know I'm more informed than they are, generally, because they're simply too busy to pay attention to the news. I admit I've spent more time teaching my students about the CRAAP Test (https://library.csuchico.edu/sites/default/files/craap-test.pdf) than I have with my kids. Honestly, I think everyone should be familiar with it to wade through the mountains of information -- and misinformation -- as we dive deeper into the election season.
Having tough conversations with others who may not agree with you can be stressful. I recommend learning about Street Epistomology (https://streetepistemology.com/). Breathe!
I really appreciate this! I live in Loudoun County, VA; we are so politically charged! I volunteer a lot and donate next to nothing so my emails aren't overloaded thankfully. I also saw your affiliate policy, which I loved! Have you heard of bookshop.org for linking to books? You can be an affiliate and earn ten percent commission, and purchases support indie bookstores. It's pretty intuitive to set up if you decide to go that route.
Thank you for this, Kathy. I love bookshop.org! I appreciate the encouragement to dig a little deeper, which I haven’t done yet. I’ve been thinking about creating a page that lists all the books I mention in one place. Perhaps bookshop.org is a good place for that…
Yes, you can make TONS of lists there as well...perhaps a "books I've talked about recently" list. You can add books one by one or import a spreadsheet of ISBNs (full disclosure I've always added them one by one though the spreadsheet is probably quicker!) And I totally get that you go with what you know, because it does take time to learn something new.
This was thoughtful and lovely, just as I'd expect from you Asha. I love the reminder that politics is an important part of our lives, but we can choose how we engage to make it more sustainable. I was personally offended (in the best way) by Karen Walrond's statement in the beginning of the LIghtmakers Manifesto that none of us will ever fully solve the issue were working on- but we can accept it and move forward with our part. Still thinking about that.
Thank you, Anne. I totally understand what you’re saying when you say you’re offended in the best way. I have tried to gradually shift toward seeing my activism as part of a bucket brigade, rather than as a superhuman task. Have you read Hope in the Dark by Rebecca Solnit? That book completely changed the way I think about political engagement.
Sometimes I wonder if you and Sarah think “she’s at it AGAIN with the fangirling.” Ha! But seriously, there is nothing else like what you’ve created and the heart both of you put into it each week goes straight to mine. So buckle up and prepare for more fangirling. 🤩
I appreciate this. I’ve been tempted to publish some political thoughts but have resisted, not wanting to add to the noise. But I also don’t want to act like nothing is happening outside of my little newsletter. In pausing to listen to my instinct, I am finding clarity in the venn diagram of current events and my writing themes.
Thanks, Jen, Things/ideas/events move so quickly that usually I’ve only just STARTED clarifying my thoughts before the next thing hits. And this was BEFORE the election. So I’m really with you on this. I am not, nor will I ever be, a fast-turnaround, hot-take sort of writer. Some people are great at producing nuanced writing in a matter of hours or days, and I’m grateful for them. I’m just not one of them!
One thing for me that will be interesting with an 18 and a 21 year old is that they all of a sudden (kidding) have their own political opinions that don’t always align exactly with mine. Learning to have uncomfortable conversations, knowing when to push back, and also listening to them and learning from them are all part of my plan as I dive into 2024.
That’s fascinating, Mara. I’ll be interested to hear how that develops...I hope you’ll keep sharing.
My son is 38 now. I have found his positions have changed as he has aged too. It is interesting to watch.
I feel safer knowing we have Sarah and Beth in common. I think it is good to have discussions with openness and curiosity, not to change another person. It can be challenging in some settings. I admire your desire to give it a try.
Thank you, Lori. Sarah and Beth are true leaders.
“My political engagement is connected to parenting so not talking about the election with you wouldn’t make sense....We need places where we can take refuge from the onslaught of political coverage. But there’s a difference between coverage and conversation.”
YES YES! Great way of thinking about the coming year, and I’m honored to be mentioned here!
Another stress reduction tactic: I just unsubscribed from every political & campaign mailing list, and searched/deleted all their emails from my inbox. (It took about an hour.) My political engagement includes donating to causes/campaigns I want to support; *not* being buried in email.
YES! Just reading those subject lines are sometimes so terrible and triggering.
I’ve slowly done the same thing.
It feels quite revolutionary to discover I can make these sorts of adjustments. In other words, engaging on my own terms. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
My kids and I are on the same political page, and always have been. I know I'm more informed than they are, generally, because they're simply too busy to pay attention to the news. I admit I've spent more time teaching my students about the CRAAP Test (https://library.csuchico.edu/sites/default/files/craap-test.pdf) than I have with my kids. Honestly, I think everyone should be familiar with it to wade through the mountains of information -- and misinformation -- as we dive deeper into the election season.
Having tough conversations with others who may not agree with you can be stressful. I recommend learning about Street Epistomology (https://streetepistemology.com/). Breathe!
Those are fantastic links. And your students are lucky!
I really appreciate this! I live in Loudoun County, VA; we are so politically charged! I volunteer a lot and donate next to nothing so my emails aren't overloaded thankfully. I also saw your affiliate policy, which I loved! Have you heard of bookshop.org for linking to books? You can be an affiliate and earn ten percent commission, and purchases support indie bookstores. It's pretty intuitive to set up if you decide to go that route.
Thank you for this, Kathy. I love bookshop.org! I appreciate the encouragement to dig a little deeper, which I haven’t done yet. I’ve been thinking about creating a page that lists all the books I mention in one place. Perhaps bookshop.org is a good place for that…
Yes, you can make TONS of lists there as well...perhaps a "books I've talked about recently" list. You can add books one by one or import a spreadsheet of ISBNs (full disclosure I've always added them one by one though the spreadsheet is probably quicker!) And I totally get that you go with what you know, because it does take time to learn something new.
This was thoughtful and lovely, just as I'd expect from you Asha. I love the reminder that politics is an important part of our lives, but we can choose how we engage to make it more sustainable. I was personally offended (in the best way) by Karen Walrond's statement in the beginning of the LIghtmakers Manifesto that none of us will ever fully solve the issue were working on- but we can accept it and move forward with our part. Still thinking about that.
Thank you, Anne. I totally understand what you’re saying when you say you’re offended in the best way. I have tried to gradually shift toward seeing my activism as part of a bucket brigade, rather than as a superhuman task. Have you read Hope in the Dark by Rebecca Solnit? That book completely changed the way I think about political engagement.
💜 thank you for your trust and for mentioning us, Asha, and also for being one of my most trusted parenting mentors
Sometimes I wonder if you and Sarah think “she’s at it AGAIN with the fangirling.” Ha! But seriously, there is nothing else like what you’ve created and the heart both of you put into it each week goes straight to mine. So buckle up and prepare for more fangirling. 🤩
I appreciate this. I’ve been tempted to publish some political thoughts but have resisted, not wanting to add to the noise. But I also don’t want to act like nothing is happening outside of my little newsletter. In pausing to listen to my instinct, I am finding clarity in the venn diagram of current events and my writing themes.
Thanks, Jen, Things/ideas/events move so quickly that usually I’ve only just STARTED clarifying my thoughts before the next thing hits. And this was BEFORE the election. So I’m really with you on this. I am not, nor will I ever be, a fast-turnaround, hot-take sort of writer. Some people are great at producing nuanced writing in a matter of hours or days, and I’m grateful for them. I’m just not one of them!