I’ll Be D@#ned, I’m Right!
“Moral indignation is in most cases two percent moral, forty-eight percent indignation,
and fifty percent envy.”
(Vittorio De Sica)
During this heated political season, when politicians show more adolescence than adulthood, it can be difficult to model maturity for our kids. But that’s what makes it so powerful when we do.
See, while it’s always good to show calm conduct in our homes, it’s particularly powerful during any kind of conflict. Without articulation, our kids are wondering, “Can the adults in my life demonstrate disagreement without discord? Do mom or dad get quickly indignant when they prop themselves up, and then vilify Hilary against Bernie, or trump Rubio over…Trump?”
The quickest way to rise above the immature fray is to watch how we communicate our disbelief about the positions of some politicians. It’s so easy to step up on our soapbox, and preach our morally superior opinion. But rarely, in the eyes of our children, does this produce the outcome we desire. Especially if they’re teenagers.
In the eyes of teenagers, the quickest path to any kind of damnation, if you will, is any kind of self-righteousness. While, of course, they practice it themselves (particularly toward their parents!), their hypocrisy is not our primary concern. We cannot justify any bad behavior on our part simply because our teenagers practice it as well. We’re the adults.
One thought on “I’ll Be D@#ned, I’m Right!”
I work primarily with families of Infants and Toddlers and we talk about the Scream Free approach often. I tell folks I know all about birth to three, but I don’t have a clue what to do with them after three! While that is is somewhat of an exxageration as I have a 25, 23 and 14 year old, I had not thought about how my reactions to the ongoing political circus might be viewed by the youngest who is surely watching and listening to my tirades this year. We try to teach him to think for himself and see all sides, but I am struggling with that one this election season. Thanks for the insight and I will watch my commentary from here on.