How do I explain this world to my son?
I was awake at six o'clock on the morning of election night on 8 November. And thought I was dreaming. I felt like millions of other people in this world.
My son was also awake. He sat down with me in front of the television, CNN livestream.
«Mummy, what's happening?»
«Can you still remember? I told you last week that a new boss is being elected in America. That's happening now.»
«Why is that? Did the other boss die?»
«No, but he can't be the boss any more. Unfortunately, it now looks like a really bad person is going to be the new boss.»
«Why can a bad person become the boss?»
«Unfortunately, I don't know either.»
I don't have any answers. At least not for a four-year-old. But we parents have to ask ourselves how we want to deal with these signs of the times, signs that are not only appearing on the other side of the pond, but also all around us. What do we want to model for our children, what kind of world do we want to pass on to them?
How can we credibly teach our children that bullying is wrong and that mutual respect is the most important thing if the «new boss» of such an important country does not set an example?
How am I supposed to make my son realise that women have the same rights and abilities if one of the most powerful people in the world treats women like objects? If he would perhaps give me a «5» visually, denying me intellect and entitlement because of my gender?
Why shouldn't our children make fun of people with disabilities - the President of the USA does it too?
How are we supposed to teach our children that all people are equal when one of the most powerful divides them into good and evil?
"Hit them hard" is definitely an option for four-year-olds
Why should children resolve their conflicts peacefully when «hit them hard» is also an option? One that is particularly popular with four-year-olds and the new President of the United States?
No, we didn't vote, but part of a divided nation did. Nevertheless, Donald Trump's presidency legitimises racism, misogyny and violence. I feel personally affected, yes, at times it feels like he has grabbed my crotch too.
And what I can't grasp, what I don't want to grasp: even now after the inauguration, which was accompanied by an aggressive, divisive speech, millions of people, including women, think: «Oh, get over it, give him a chance, it's not so bad.»
Yes, it is.
We encounter the above issues time and again in our everyday lives with our children. When we try to bring them up to be tolerant, respectful and peaceful people. So how am I supposed to explain to my children that they are not allowed to say or do certain things when the President of the USA is allowed to do so and does so with impunity, and even receives applause?
Perhaps one day my children will ask me how it could have come to this. Just as we looked at our grandparents in disbelief and asked, shaking our heads, why in 1933 people were so hungry for change that an incompetent laughing stock could become leader whom no one initially took seriously. We are now experiencing the answer to this every day, via livestream, Twitter or Facebook.
The responsibility now also lies with us. It's not just «the Americans», the Trump supporters, it's a mindset that exists around us and has been fed a large portion of fertiliser through these elections, worldwide.
It's probably better that my son explains the world to me again in future. Mine has begun to totter.
Picture: Fotolia
