Mother and Politics

[Melodeonist]

Let me start by saying I love my mother very much; however, she is often reading out loud from political sources that have a liberal bias. This might not seem like a big issue, but we both don’t like arguing politics and we both know that we are on opposite sides of the political spectrum. It can get annoying when she starts reading out news stories or repeating what the news stations are saying while she is reading/watching the news.

I used to reply with my own political stance, but that only lead us to argue. Recently I decided to keep my trap shut and just let her read the stories.

I know that I can never convince my mother to side with me, and I’m pretty sure my mother knows that she will never convince me to side with her. I just don’t understand why she reads the stories out loud to me.

Does anyone have some tips to convince my mother to stop reading the stories to me? Or would the best course of action instead be to just continue to keep my trap shut?

 

[mommy_k]

You mother is trying to validate her political views to you. Just keep your mouth shut and know this. Don’t let her bait u into an argument.
Sometimes when people tell me things that are different than what i believe, i say only “thank u for sharing that,”— and then remain non plussed…and I continue what I was doing. The silent message this sends is – i know this is important to you, but it really isn’t to me, and I am not expanding or arguing.

It may annoy your mother too much though but you know her better…silence too is very good…

 

[Lookingforjoy]

Does anyone have some tips to convince my mother to stop reading the stories to me? Or would the best course of action instead be to just continue to keep my trap shut?

It’s probably easiest to keep your mouth shut.

My parents and I have a similar relationship, except I am the liberal one. When we do get into political conversations, the only productive ones are where we talk about WHY we believe what we do. Working in the city and working with families in extreme poverty makes me have different political stances than my parents, who live in a rural area with mostly well-off families. They worry about abortion, I worry about people not having food, shelter, public education or health care…the only times we can come together are when we agree that these all of these problems are significant, and discuss how they can be solved independent of party lines. If you have to engage with your mother, ask her WHY the issues bother her and, ideally, what could be done to solve them, or what the two of you as private citizens could do.

But really, it’s easiest to just stay quiet.

 

[Crusaderbear]

Vote on her opinions with your feet, just leave the room! She will catch on to lay off the political soapbox…or not. You will have a much more peaceful evening!