 In 2008 I had an epiphany after listening to two acquaintances tell me why they thought their candidate- Barack Obama or John McCain- should be our next president. At the time, political rancor was boiling. Their stories were personal, capturing experiences they’d had as children that cemented how they would go on to vote as adults.
I defined these as “political shaping” stories and with every election since 2008 believe more strongly that hearing American citizens’ political shaping stories is what we need to mend the political divide we are suffering, to ease the national rancor that is now spewing over the sides. I brought sixteen of these unique stories together in my new book, How People Get Their Politics, which will be released by Motina Books on Sept. 22.  My 2020 high school senior When schools shuttered in March most couldn’t have predicted it would be five months before children would go back and, even then, school wouldn’t be what they’d known. While most of our local children are starting school remotely from home this week, a few will be on campus for a little while, with how that looks varying. It felt like the Twilight Zone when my high schoolers were envious to learn their younger sister got to go back for half days before finishing the rest of her school day online. Less than a year ago my high schoolers were sent home because of a water line break and it was my middle schoolers who lamented the injustice.
All schools are in a no-win situation right now as they undertake an entire paradigm shift in quick time. The most controversial issue I’ve noticed surrounding schools is whether kids should be back physically and if so, how?  In the wake of Kobe Bryant’s tragic death #girldad began trending online. Among his many accomplishments, the basketball legend’s proudest role was being a dad. He was vocal about his love of having all daughters, so much so that when teammates teased him last year when his wife Vanessa gave birth to the couple’s fourth girl, Bryant responded that he’d “have five more daughters” if he could.
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January 2021
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