Parenting Against the Trend

At book club the other night, myself and the other mothers were talking about the need for a revolution in America. Sometime in the near future, people will stop being so apathetic and will revolt against having their country run by corporations and will be willing to take risks to defend the democracy they hold so dear.

God, I hope that's true.

Then we went on to discuss ways in which we can make our voices heard; heard for real, meaning that because of our words, action will be taken to benefit the country or the world at large. That's not asking for much, is it?

Is it asking too much? Isn't this how movements always begin, with a few voices?

As all of us in the group are mothers, our reasons for wanting to change the world is largely rooted in our wanting a better world for our children. What floors me is that not everyone wants the same. What blows my mind is that there are parents who not only aren't thinking about the ways to make the world better for their children but are buying their daughters pajamas that say, "I Like Daddy's Money" or t-shirts that say, "My Brother Does My Math Homework" and are telling their two-year-old children to "shut the hell up" in the Target aisle when their child is being about as mild-mannered as can be expected and even more so.

Sometimes, it feels like I'm parenting against the trend, but I refuse to talk to my daughter like she's an inconvenience and undeserving of respect, and will NEVER buy her clothing that attests to a complete lack of self-esteem and a supremely shallow view of her potential and the world.

So then, what do I intend to do about it, besides bitching about it? How will I be a part of the revolution?