I’m not a PTA mom.
I was class president for a year in high school and a part of student government for every other year besides that, but somewhere along the route to parenthood I internalized a message that over-involvement in the governance of my kids’ school wasn’t only financially implausible as a wage-earning parent, but also, somehow, unfeminist. I made an only partially subconscious decision that I wouldn’t and couldn’t sacrifice any more than the average dad of elementary aged kids in service of my kids’ public education.
Typing that out in a public forum, I can see what an extraordinarily low bar I set for myself; as if comparing myself to the least involved, most privileged among us could ever be a sign of my own liberation. But more than that, I’m ashamed to admit, I realize that I wanted to see myself as different from the PTA moms; as someone with more pressing concerns than running a bake sale or collecting donations for the school fundraiser.
Over the weekend I began reading
truly excellent new book, The Right Kind of White and was reminded of the t-shirt that my mom wore through much of my elementary school years, and also plastered onto the bumper of our Plymouth Voyager:It will be a great day when our schools get all the money they need and the Air Force has to hold a bake sale to buy a bomber.
I remember the day in first grade when she wore the t-shirt to work behind the bake sale table at my brand-new school. I was so proud of her, my beautiful mom putting brownies in the hands of people actively voting against funding for our public school.
Anyway. I’ve decided to run for office. I’m pledging to show up and try to fix things and to make an effort to be the stupid change I want to see in what truly feels like a godforsaken world.
I cast a blank ballot in the presidential primary this morning, which I’ve been told all day is giving up on democracy and allowing for a Trump presidency. Misunderstandings of how primary elections and nominations work aside, I understand the worry. I can’t say with certainty what kind of vote I’ll cast when it comes time for the general election, but I am hoping that with help from folks reading we can raise money for down-ballot races with extremely good chances for making meaningful change.
One bake sale and one door-knocking campaign at a time, I’m putting my faith in showing up.
More on all that, soon.
Hi Erin,
I had put my subscription on pause, and now that it is not paused I cannot seem to get emails notifying me of new postS?
Appreciate any help thank you!
Just printed and put this image up in my office (faculty at a community college). <3