I live in a household divided. Every four years during this time my husband and I are at odds. There are days where we can have candid conversations about our political differences. Other days we can't speak about it at all. And sometimes I feel like I am fighting for my marriage.
This year, we did what we always do during the Presidential Election, we canceled each other's vote out. Neither of us are far leaning to our respective sides, and actually I consider us both very moderate. However, just because he voted for Trump doesn't mean that I think he is a misogynist, bigot, and racist. He is far from that. In the same breath, just because I voted for Hillary doesn't mean I want to kill all the late-term babies. I know that he loves me, even if he disagrees with how I voted yesterday. Our voting histories are just one of many ways we're different. We were raised differently, cut from different cloths, and THAT'S OKAY!
Despite our political differences, I think Jerry is brilliant, diligent, and fearless. I have so much respect for his opinion and the way he thinks. He is eloquent in his communication of his ideas and I am in awe of him. He makes me think deeply about issues and challenges me to be a better wife, mother, and citizen. I am not ashamed of him and what he believes, quite the opposite. I am proud to have chosen someone with such intelligence and passion to spend the rest of my life with.
We make an effort find ways to try and be respectful to one another despite our political differences. I won't sit here and tell you that we are always successful. Putting two passionate people in the same household with differing opinions is bound to produce some sparks sometimes and it does.
However, we do agree on a number of things, like how to raise our kids, how to be supportive of one another in our careers, and how to show love and compassion to anyone regardless of their belief system. It is the love that we have built within our house that is the foundation for all that we do.
Our kids are too young to understand the political thicket right now, but eventually we will have to have conversations with them about people having different opinions. Sometimes there is no right or wrong and sometimes there is. Regardless of people's opinions we need to show one another respect and love. The kindergarten message of "treat others with kindness" will be our first message to our children and we will try to show them just that. I want to show them that despite our differences we can be respectful and loving and passionate in the same breath. I am not naive to think that this will be easy to do, but raising kids isn't easy.
Today, post-election, I am filled with relief. The emotionally charged conversations that we've been having can take a back seat for a little while and we can all take a deep breath. I was feeling overwhelmed this morning thinking about how to react. Although I voted #withher, now I have to say that I am going to stand #behindhim as our next President. I don't feel like I've lost, just that my opinions are different from our next President and that's okay.
I'm ready to let the healing begin as we go forward into the next four years. I realize that not everyone is able to do this so quickly, but I live in a house divided and we will always try and find a way to make it work regardless of the circumstance. It is a house I chose to live in and I wouldn't have it any other way.