I remember watching the election four years ago with my husband on the couch until 2 a.m., and we were both overly distraught. I don't think either of us have much faith in the political system (if I'm being honest) but, we were still heartbroken by the news Donald Trump would be president.
We were starting feel out when we wanted to try for a baby and I remember watching Van Jones on CNN, with tears in his eyes, talking about how hard it was to be a parent right now. It deeply resonated with me: How on Earth would I explain this to my future kids? Little did I know the next four years would bring a lot more 'splaining to do.
A lot of folks, Van Jones included, felt that when the American people voted to put Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in office that it was finally a good day to be a parent. Now that I am one, I have to disagree.
Donald Trump getting impeached was the day that made parenting easier.
My son is too little to fully grasp the chaos that this all is, but for parents who have elementary school kids who look at the news, it has been hard. Not only are there tough conversations that adults seem to be "incapabale" of having civally, there is a blatant disconnect between the morals we try to teach and the people in power who are supposed to uphold them.
Trump's impeachment, in direct relation to the insurgence, it's finally a palpable consequence for an action.
His impeachment serves as a reminder that you cannot just act with impunity.
Parents can, in whatever way is age-appropriate and sensible, show their children when you act recklessly and with little regard for others, you are punished.
The thing is, our society, political system, and laws are set upon one common thing: precedent. When you can point to something as proof that there are consequences for actions, and what they are, it can make it easier to explain to kids the values of right and wrong.
I'm not delusional nor so naïve as to believe that his impeachment or even Biden/Harris moving into the White House next week will solve the problems we face.
There is so much still to work on to make a better life for our children. I'm sure there are plenty of hard days ahead. But today for a moment, I'm going to pause and be thankful that something followed through it needed to.
Of course, this win doesn't mean complacency. We can't tell our kids that everything is suddenly better.
But we can tell them with some cautious optimism that we are on the right track. We need to keep holding our leaders on both sides of the aisle as accountable as possible. Because our babies are watching, and one day their observations will turn into actions, and we need to be able to point to people as the reference guide for behaviors.
