I debated whether or not to post this. But the phone call made me so sad...and I am sure some folks have had this experience. And I guess, it is boundaries and setting them that people find challenging.
Already I have had three friends who have been cut off from their children...due to Politics. And in my own life, two lifelong friends have chosen Politics and Anger over Family and love.
But back to the phone call. It was from the forty year old daughter of a friend of mine. She wanted to know if I had talked with her Mother over the Holidays. I explained I had been sick, so except for a few emails, I hadn't talked to many folks since Thanksgiving.
And they she told me about how she kicked her Mother and Father out of their house at Christmas. It started with an innocent remark.
"I got a big turkey, they were on sale. So Ham's are to expensive this year. "
To which her Mom and Dad laughed and said:
"You can thank Biden and the Democrats for that. Those bastards don't care about you."
She tried to rebut...but they were on a roll.
Her husband came in the room and asked what was going on. And by then, well, it was heated.
Her husband closed the door to the Kitchen and said point blank to his In Laws:
"Look, not everything is about Politics. It is Christmas. In the other room are my children. They are five, seven and 11...kids. Just kids at Christmas. Already in the car you sounded off for forty five minutes. Katy asked why Grandpa and Grandma are so mad all the time. I told her because they watch too much News. And she said: "Just turn the TV Off."
Good advice.
He gave them an ultimatum. Knock of the Politics, anger and ridicule of people...and just enjoy the children and Christmas.
That lasted until they sat down for dinner. Because the Grandfather started right up again saying that if they didn't have a "Woke" Father they would understand the danger America is in better.
And that was that. She told them to get out. And they left. I already knew that two of my own Nephews and Nieces had already had that ugly break with Family. Over stuff that kids don't need to worry about. The anger is almost palatable when they talk.
My Nephew had to tell his Father in Law the same thing. Back off.
"Rick (He never called his Father in Law Dad) I am a Marine too. So why can't you follow a simple rule? No politics around the kids. Jesus Rick they are three and five. And already they are asking me if Biden is going to Hell. What am I supposed to say to my kids? You want me talking about Hell on Christmas? And that it is okay to hate people enough to wish them dead?' Stop it. Just stop it. "

Well, he did not. And now another family has Christmas without important family members. Little kids have ears. They are listening. So maybe you think it is fun to "take the piss" out of someone you don't agree with. But if you think it is okay to pass off talking to a five year old about Hell and Death because of your beliefs...on Christmas Day. You have forgotten what it means to be Family.
I posted a picture of a poster that my Parents believed in enforcing at Family Dinners. No Politics. No Religion. No Drama.
And maybe that's why I can post about good times with my brothers and sisters. Believe me, in a large family those opinions run the gauntlet- I have relatives just to the Left of Caligula and some just to the Right of Attila the Hun, and yet, we have communal dinners with no problems.
One on one, it can get nasty...but not in front of kids, and never at the dinner table. It just made me sad. When her Mother calls, I will listen.