Single Mom at Work
with Karli Larson
The transition from stay-at-home mom to divorced-and-working-full-time mom can be challenging, and sometimes very lonely. Throw in a few cats, an ancient dog and one very brave boyfriend, and life gets downright crazy. Join me as I talk through my thoughts and struggles, my miscalculations and my triumphs. We're in this together, you and I.
When I'm not writing here you can find me over at work on the TisBest Philanthropy blog.
|
Oh, the hell with it. Let’s talk politics, and why I don’t feel like talking politics anymore.
I watched the Presidential debate for all of three and a half minutes. That’s all I needed to see. Mitt was going hard, and Obama was doing his low-key thing—death in a debate.
Got it. Click.
Of course I’ll vote. But it’s increasingly hard to care.
[Personal disclaimer: Hey, this post? In no way reflects the opinions or views of any other soul at Work It, Mom, unless, you know, somebody here feels the same way and tells you over drinks.]
I’m not a fan of Mitt. Which should really come as no shock. If you read this from time to time, you know my demographic: the 47%, struggling, socialist-leaning single mama who got through an awful patch solely due to unemployment, a woman not eager to have a political agenda wedged into her va-jay-jay. No prob if you’re a Mitt supporter. You’ve got your reasons, and that’s cool by me. I’ve got my reasons, too, and one is the simple fact that I can’t get behind a dude who straps a dog to the top of a car for a twelve-hour journey at a speed of 70 mph. I don’t care if it happened yesterday or 25 years ago. For me, it’s that old wisdom about the true test of a person’s character: how do they treat the waitress or the dry cleaner…or an animal?
What I’m saying is that, for me, it’s down to the personal stuff, when I can get up the energy to care at all. The personal, at least, gives me a handhold, something to grip. The policies? They don’t trickle down. They never even get a chance.
The thing is, I don’t see myself and my kids anywhere in the usual discussion. It’s turned into a show, a Cirque du Soleil of HE’S A LIAR NO HE’S A LIAR and dazzling feats equal parts idiocy and illusion. I stare at it, and I don’t see my girls. And my kids are my everything, like yours are to you. It’s hard to care who’s elected when it feels like the election is just a big dirty circus tent with two ringmasters fighting over the spotlight.
The VP debate I couldn’t stomach either. I knew I’d get the gist the next day, when GIFs of Biden’s smirk were all over the web. I can’t even bring myself to care about it. I’m not proud of that. But I’m tired of politics in my inbox. I’m tired of being asked to give money. It’s a constant drone of PICK ME PICK ME SHOW YOUR LOYALTY DON’T LET THE BAD GUY WIN WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT OR WE’LL DIE.
Politicians, we need your loyalty. We need YOUR support. We’re dying here. I’ve donated. I’ve written letters. It’s an investment of time, money and energy that I’d love to see pay off. But I just feel more and more removed from all of you, all the time.
I’ll watch the debates when they hire a moderator with a whip. I want the moderator to crack the whip when either candidate says anything resembling a sound bite. CRACK! I want no notes, no makeup, no b.s.
I think I’m going to be waiting for a long, long time.
Tell me: As a parent, what frustrates you about the election process?
Subscribe to blog via RSS
My answer to the final question: the electoral college and the foolish notion that the person who holds the office of President is responsible for anything that actually happens in our daily lives.
I find it tremendously difficult to care as well.
barometer | October 13th, 2012 at 12:23 pm
I think it’s a shame that politicians can never speak candidly. They can never be really authentic– never be funny or vulnerable. What kind of a country can we really have when the people running it feel like they have to avoid all that at all costs.
Sheryl | October 13th, 2012 at 3:17 pm
I work in politics. And when I say I hear you, I definitely do. I didn’t watch either the Pres or VP debates, because I already know what’s going to be said.
That said. I truly hope that you take a moment to look down your ballot. Those little measures, initiatives, propositions, hell even your local state representative. All of these things have more to say about what you call “the personal stuff”. Things like whether we have local bus service for those who can’t afford a car, and health insurance for low-income children. Things, like allowing same sex couples to marry. It doesn’t get more personal than that. I’m by no means saying you don’t do just that. But I wanted to take this opportunity to reach out to others who may not.
At the end of the day, who the president is matters, yes. But who represents you on the city council or even the school board matter just as much, if not more. Take some time to figure out who they are, and vote wisely.
Its easy to be jaded this time of year, but don’t forget there are people who care, people doing great work. It’s time the American public started giving more recognition for that than who had the best tie on national television.
Kate | October 13th, 2012 at 6:07 pm
I hate the fact that after the debates it has become necessary to do a “fact check” of the candidates’ statements. I wish that the men running for president and vice president were honorable enough that they debated with honesty about their own and their opponet’s positions, not with exaggerations and outright lies - from both sides.
I don’t share your political beliefs, but appreciate the fact that you didn’t put down or belittle those who lean in a different political direction. I think we all want the same thing - a better and brighter future for our children. We just have different ideas about the best way to get there.
amandab | October 15th, 2012 at 1:46 pm
I second @amandab on the truth-telling. Exaggeration and self-aggrandizement are part and parcel of politics, but the level of outright dishonesty has been astonishing. These guys want to lead our country, be the face of the USA to the world, how do we trust them to do that well if we can’t trust them to tell us, the people who elect them, the truth about what they stand for and where they want to take the nation?
Mich | October 18th, 2012 at 10:27 am
Frankly, in this election, I can’t see past women’s issues. I cannot understand why women would support the republican ticket.
As a rule, I don’t discuss politics. You’re making me break my own rules here!
Kris | October 19th, 2012 at 8:09 am
What frustrates me is how much time is devoted to things that are completely beyond a president’s control, and how little is devoted to things that are within his sphere of influence (like Supreme Court Justice nominations.)
Miss Britt | October 22nd, 2012 at 1:00 pm
Jenn, just checking in on you - your blog doesn’t load on my computer and you haven’t posted here in a while. I hope everything is ok. Just thinking about you today.
h2o_girl | November 12th, 2012 at 5:58 pm
Thinking of you, too.
I check in every day.
Kris | November 15th, 2012 at 10:19 am