Back to Basics: Civic Self-Care
There’s just so much to be thankful for as a millennial parent. We don’t mind asking for help. We’re not afraid of SSRI’s. We have
to tell us we’re doing a great job on a weekly basis (in a text!!). Big Little Feelings is there to remind me that all toddlers are emotional terrorists and if I raise my voice, I’m not a bad parent.And, we don’t run away from talking about mental health.
In honor of World Mental Health Day (especially less than a month before the presidential election), I am sending my favorite mental health mantras that relate to civics.
Think of civic engagement as self-care.
minted this idea and it stuck, because she is a millennial, she gets millennials, and she knows that this generation has a healthy respect for self-care as a form of wellness. Even if we’re not in control of a single thing, being informed is just as potent a form of self-care as anything else.Civics is so much bigger than politics. I cannot say this enough. This is a spiritual mantra to me, and so important to remember, especially as a parent.
Microdosing (information) is the best way to make great strides. Small steps, big wins.
Find your village. I have a virtual civic village that teaches me, makes me think, keeps me on my toes, and reminds me constantly why I do what I do.
, , , , are part of my daily civic journey. I have a real-life civic village too (you know who you are!) that keeps me laughing, learning and most importantly, deeply connected. Find your people.
The Civic Influencer Saving My Week
Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about bringing in different points of view from parents who have more experience than me, and then, JUST LIKE THAT, Sarah and Beth from
recorded two episodes on talking to kids about the election (the first one came out on Tuesday and is linked here, and the second one comes out tomorrow).Gus is barely two and a half and it’s going to be a beat before I have these conversations with him, but being the earnest millennial parent that I am, I binged the first episode and even re-listened to part of it.
Truly, everything I do with Civic EQ comes down to being prepared to having these conversations and raising this boy to be kind, compassionate, curious, respectful of others, articulate, and open-minded… all the things I fully believe are foundational to being a good citizen of the world.
Give it a listen!
More soon,
Sarah