{"id":5049,"date":"2020-04-29T22:07:38","date_gmt":"2020-04-30T02:07:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mlparentcoach.com\/?p=5049"},"modified":"2020-04-29T22:07:38","modified_gmt":"2020-04-30T02:07:38","slug":"my-teen-has-lots-of-political-opinions-how-can-i-teach-her-to-share-them-politely","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mlparentcoach.com\/new\/washington-post\/my-teen-has-lots-of-political-opinions-how-can-i-teach-her-to-share-them-politely\/","title":{"rendered":"My teen has lots of political opinions. How can I teach her to share them politely?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Q:\u00a0<\/b>My 13-year-old daughter has discovered a love for politics and political discussion during this past year. I am impressed by her desire and effort to learn about the issues; she researches issues and candidates, and she really thinks about how she feels. On the other hand, I am dismayed by the fact that she wants to talk about nothing but politics, as well as how she now often speaks to her dad and me as though we are somewhat stupid and our knowledge and experience hold little value. (For example, she recently told her dad that he doesn’t know what capitalism is, but he has a degree in economics.) I personally don’t enjoy discussing or debating politics very much, and to have my intelligence insulted makes it even less enjoyable. Even when we agree on something, she seems to want to turn it into an argument, and she will hunt for any subtle difference in our opinion or understanding in an effort to debate it. Do you have some tips on how I can engage with my daughter in her now favorite activity while also encouraging respectful discourse? I am so proud of her for wanting to be engaged with the issues of the day, but I am also feeling pretty worn out by the nonstop political discussions. Thank you!<\/p>\n

A:\u00a0<\/b>Thank you for this letter, and welcome to the wonderful world of parenting a teen! Although I don\u2019t believe in painting all teens with one wide brush, there are some characteristics that they tend to share, and one of those is an excited egotism. After teaching eighth-, 11th- and 12th-graders (and parenting two teens myself), trust me, I know that their \u201cexpert\u201d views can wear on even the most patient parent\u2019s nerves. So, what can you do?<\/p>\n

First, to have a young woman feel passionately about politics is what the world needs right now. Wherever she falls on the political spectrum, we need young people to stay thoughtful and interested; she is our future. And although you already know that she is our future, it can still be challenging for those of us who either grew up being taught to never talk politics or are simply uninterested in it.<\/p>\n

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Even though we want to encourage her budding and passionate political interests, we don\u2019t do your daughter any favors by allowing her to run roughshod over the family with her views and tone. Being rude and being \u201cpolitical\u201d are not the same (despite what our larger culture tends to reflect), and your daughter is at the perfect age to start learning this.<\/p>\n

[sc name=”Button Conflict to Cooperation Right”]<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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It\u2019s time to introduce her to debate. This age-old school club is still as hot as ever, and the National Speech and Debate Association (speechanddebate.org<\/a>) is a great way to discover types of debate and competitions, and you can learn how to get a team started at her school, if there isn\u2019t one already. If nothing else, the organization\u2019s website can serve as a springboard for thoughtful discourse.<\/p>\n

Next, find great politicians, and have your daughter study their ways of communicating. From the brash to the understated, finding examples is fun and never-ending. From President Barack Obama\u2019s inspirational speeches to President George W. Bush\u2019s folksy charm, from Sen. Elizabeth Warren\u2019s recent verbal dismantling of Mike Bloomberg to the first female African American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.<\/p>\n

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You need to create boundaries with your daughter. Yes, we want to grow her love of politics, but there is a line between interest and harassment, and you must draw it. Simply put, it is rude to constantly give your unasked political opinions, so call a meeting with her and say, for example: \u201cYou are welcome to share your newest political find or opinion in the first five minutes of dinner, and it must come in the form of a give-and-take. If not, we will stop talking and end dinner. After the five minutes, we will move on to other topics. We love learning from and with you, but our family also consists of more than one person.\u201d Stick to your guns here. If your daughter cannot share her views politely or refuses to change the subject, simply say, \u201cDinner is over,\u201d and end it. Don\u2019t lecture (a lecture added to her lecture won\u2019t fix anything), and stay steady.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Lastly, see if your spouse can do some of this emotional heavy lifting here. If listening to your teen exhausts you, ask her father to take a walk with her and help her to get it out of her system. And remember, as long as you hold kind and firm boundaries, your teen will outgrow her need to treat others as if they are stupid. Watch movies, read books and share columns about feisty, smart women and the myriad ways we can share our opinions and knowledge. Good luck.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Find this over on The Washington Post.<\/a><\/p>\n

Looking for more parenting support? Click here.<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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