As parents, do we teach, or are we taught?
This week President Obama made a remarkable televised declaration of personal support for same-sex marriage—the first President of the United States to ever do so.
The motivations for his declaration during a contentious election year are an issue of hot debate, but the President explained his decision to publicly affirm his support—reversing his position on the issue—as one driven not so much by his role as a chief executive and candidate, but as a parent.
He credits how his kids regard the same-sex parents of their friends and peers as something that fundamentally altered his own view.
As parents, we are taught that we hold the moral compass for our children; they are meant to follow our lead.
Speaking for myself, as a relatively new parent, I have already found that my young children have reshaped my thinking in many ways, on issues large and small.
But how far does this, or should this go? Are there some issues that you view as non-negotiable in your family?
This week, we’d like to hear from you. Has your role as a parent influenced or changed your thinking about the issue of same-sex marriage?
Check back next week for Parent Chat when we will discuss how local parents handle concerns they may have about firearms kept in the homes of their children’s friends. If you have a viewpoint or topic idea that you would like to contribute to an upcoming post, please directly email kirsten.e.branch@gmail.com.
