raising politics and how you can apply it at your breakroom in your office!

Today I ended up speaking to my mom for a little over an hour. I called her because well, I missed her and rainy days always make me think of the times she would open all of the windows in the house and let the cool breeze come in and hit our feet as we walked through to the kitchen.

In this conversation I realize I have grown. Yeah, a little late in making this realization but trust me, it really hit me today.

She tells me how my dad and herself have taken enormous pride in raising my sister and I. What provoked this comment?! I had to ask. She said she is reading Avery Johnson's new book, a biography I believe, and she wanted to mention how he teaches his kids to be respectful of others and yourself & how people can perceive so much in the way a child acts or behaves in public. She tells me that whenever she would pick my sister and I up from relatives, day cares, summer camps, etc she would always get the compliment of how quiet, refined, and even well-behaved we were during our stay. They would ask what the secret was and she would say, "Respect...teach them to be respectful". Simple, right, she asks me. Sure. I never have known any other way.

One thing about the way my sister and I were raised was how admit my parents were devoted in teaching & making us understand our sense of self. We understand each other, we listen, we care, and we love. That is all we know. That was all we were taught. My sister and I have an undying love for each other. I cannot think of a time where we have had a fight. I think the last was probably when we were kids or something...if at that. We were taught to never fight with each other. Love one another because we are all we have. Unconditional love that never stops regardless. The little things shouldn't bother us because we are sisters...because we love. I kind of explained it this way for my mom (w/more or less words) whilst talking to her over the phone today. I heard her smile.

Then we went into the world of politics. She was telling me how ignorant people at work sound in the breakroom when they say that Obama isn't patriotic bc he doesn't wear a flag on his lapel or hold his hand over his heart during the National Anthlem. I ask her if she says anything and she says she would rather not. She told me how frustrated she has been these past 8 years. War, monetary problems, she's changed occupations 3 times so far in the past 4 years, and just in general how hard it is to get back into school, get a loan for a home and school, etc. I encouraged her to speak up when people said ignorant stuff. I reminded her that unless she opens her mouth she will continue to hear this ignorance all around her from her 'own people' as she called them (mostly Hispanic who work with her). I heard anger and disappointment in my mom's voice tonight. It made me sad and it made me feel so useless.

When do you think things will change? When do you think people will realize that that party that sits in the White House is the reason for our 8 years of just 'barely making it through'?! When will change happen?

I asked my mom that same question and she said, "Well, I guess when someone speaks up and tells them to educate themselves!" I agreed. I told her to speak up and educate them with the same notions my parents taught my sister and I--respect.