When my sons woke up the day after Trump’s re-election, I had to explain to them that the candidate we voted for, Kamala Harris, had lost. I emphasized the importance of kindness, regardless of who was in charge of the country. I believed that Trump’s lack of kindness was unappealing and dangerous, with a headline calling him “America’s strongman.” Trump’s message was filled with personal attacks and divisive rhetoric, creating a model of leadership that I did not want my sons to emulate.
Parenting young children comes with its challenges, and I often remind myself and my kids to be kind in all situations. However, I began to question if kindness was enough in a world that valued strength and aggression. Trump’s appeal seemed to stem from his willingness to attack others without remorse, which was concerning in the context of teaching my sons about compassion and empathy. His hyper-masculine approach to leadership raised concerns about the type of masculinity my sons would be exposed to.
Trump’s message of protection, even if unwanted, highlighted his questionable views on masculinity and relationships. As a parent, I wanted to instill values of care, respect, and empathy in my sons, in contrast to Trump’s aggressive and self-centered approach. I believed that true masculinity involved looking out for others and supporting those in need, rather than prioritizing power and dominance. I wanted my sons to grow up with a sense of compassion and understanding towards others, especially women.
The upcoming years would involve difficult conversations with my children about the behavior and actions of the president, who was supposed to be a role model for the nation. I feared that if my boys continued to embody kindness and compassion, they would be at odds with a world that rewarded aggression and ruthlessness. I hoped that they would not be ground down by a society that valued strength over kindness. Despite these challenges, I believed in the importance of demonstrating kindness and care in our interactions with others, even in the face of adversity.
As a writer and a parent, I grappled with the conflicting messages and values being portrayed in the political landscape. Trump’s presidency highlighted the need for a different kind of leadership, one that prioritized compassion and empathy over aggression and division. I hoped that my sons would learn from this experience and understand the importance of kindness in a world that often seemed devoid of it. In the end, I realized that the only thing I could control was my own actions, and so I chose to model kindness and compassion in my interactions with others, including buying my wife flowers as a small act of kindness.
