My boy...
Last edited Tue Jul 7, 2015, 07:37 PM - Edit history (1)
I'm a normal parent who loves to brag about my genius kid. I've shared stories about him and things he's said here many times.
He's an only child and we have a very close relationship. I've always encouraged his interests, even if they weren't my interests. Sometimes it's not easy. He loves guns and military play. He also loves military history. He and his dad watch the military history channel all the time. I just broaden the dialogue.
We make time every single day to talk for at least an hour. He asks me what I think about things, and I always start with, "What do you think?" I always make sure he knows he doesn't have to agree with me to be loved and respected, and I can learn from him just as well as he can learn from me.
I'm an artist and a musician and I always hoped he'd be interested in my projects so I can show him how to draw, paint, and play guitar. But he's not interested. That's okay. He does like to play drums.
Like most folks here, I have been involved in political campaigns and have been a social justice activist for a very long time. My son has always been very interested in that. "What are you writing? Where are you going? What are you doing? Why are you doing that?"
One of his favorite games to play with me is Debate. He picks a topic and one of us takes the right-wing position and one of us takes the liberal position, and then we switch.
When I started getting involved in promoting Bernie's candidacy to friends, family, neighbors and local organizations, my son became very interested.
He is planning a fundraising concert with me. He wants to go door to door with me. He wants to be involved in everything I'm doing to spread the word.
He discovered Bernie the same way I did. He cares about the issues facing our country. He wants to do something to help. And Bernie was out there saying the same things we were, fighting the same fights we are fighting, using everything he's got to help make the world a better place.
"Can Bernie win?" He asked me shortly after he announced.
"Well," I said, "the short answer is yes. But it could go either way. We have to work as hard as we can and give as much as we can. It still might not be enough but we have to try. And if enough of us work together, he can definitely win. But let me ask you, when you ran for class president last year, you didn't win. But are you sorry you tried?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"You have to try, and all you can do is your best. If I didn't try, how would I know what my best is?"
He is definitely trying his best. He never misses an opportunity to ask people if they know who Bernie Sanders is and why his campaign is important.
The other day when I picked him up from day camp, this is the conversation I walked in on with one of his counselors:
Counselor: I just like Hillary Clinton. I don't really know Bernie Sanders.
G: Well, it's good to like people. That's nice. But do you like Citigroup and all the big banks?
Counselor: Not really.
G: And do you like yourself?
Counselor: Well, yeah.
G: Well, a vote for Hillary is a vote for Citigroup and a vote for Bernie is a vote for yourself. It's that simple. Do some more reading and then think about what I said.
I just shrugged and said, "He's right."
I was cautioned here to protect his heart. We are both committed to doing the best we can as campaign volunteers. And it's a bonding experience for us. We are in pretty deep. No matter what happens, I will have to be an example of how to adjust and what to do next.
And no matter what happens, we have to stay engaged. One of the smartest and most true things Bernie says is that no president can oppose corporate power without a powerful and active grassroots movement happening.
And I want to make sure he has space to form his own opinions. I know that the fact that I love his involvement is helping to shape his values. I'm very conscious of that.
But I am proud of him. I think he is wise beyond his years. And I couldn't possibly ask for a better volunteer partner.
Thanks for listening.
= new reply since forum marked as read
...for sure.
We're blessed.
Sounds like a good kid. 
He sounds like a wonderful boy and you are a wonderful parent. I hope you talk more about this in the future, and Go Bernie!
