Be Thankful, Not Classless

This Thanksgiving, I sat down to write about what I’m thankful for, but instead decided to do something a bit different. I was watching the Today Show (which I love, by the way, because I delight in watching banter, happiness, and cooking segments while drinking my morning coffee), and they did a story about some senior republican staff person who tweeted a very sad and judgmental comment about President Obama’s daughters.  She said something about them being “classless” in reference to the way they were dressed on television, and that they clearly didn’t have good role models. She went further, saying that the girls should dress nicer instead of looking like they were trying to get a seat “at a bar”.

Seriously, what a bitch. I get it; you don’t like the guy. You hate his policies, what he stands for, his political views, and maybe you even hate him as a person. But Lady, he’s our PRESIDENT. Like it or not, he was elected, he’s doing his job, and his children have NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. Leave the kids alone; leave them out of it.

These girls are teenagers. They were wearing dresses and sweaters. Maybe the skirts were a tad short, not awful at all, but a little short. I DON’T GIVE A CRAP. They looked sweet, clean, calm, and like TEENAGERS. The part about them trying to get into a bar was especially hurtful, awful, and CLASSLESS. Did they look a little bit bored up there listening to their dad speak? They did. But classless? Nope. What’s classless is that an ADULT woman chose that moment to knock them down, criticize two children and take a stab at their parents’ lack of role modeling. Now that’s classless.

Also classless; the apology that followed. The woman tweeted that “after praying” she realized that her comments were not nice. You needed to pray to figure that out? So, you slammed two young girls, your Christianity kicked in several moments later, and then you felt “just awful” about it? I’m not buying it, Lady.

We all make mistakes. We all say and do things we shouldn’t. But that tweet was thought about, written, and that little “send” button (or tweet button, or whatever button), was pushed because you thought you were being clever or funny or disparaging or mean, and you wanted everyone to see it. It wasn’t like you were watching this on television, and you turned to your mom or significant other and said, “Hey, those girls should be dressed a bit nicer and they should have bigger smiles on their faces when their dad is up there speaking.” Nope. You went in for the kill, instead deciding to tweet your hate for the entire world to see.

Never mind that the girls were there to watch their dad pardon a turkey. It wasn’t like he was doing an important speech about human trafficking or the war in Afghanistan. He was talking about a turkey, and there was a turkey sitting right there, clucking away (or whatever turkeys do), waiting to run free all over the land. Seriously, I don’t know if I would have been able to keep a straight face. And what do you expect young girls to wear to a turkey pardon? Ball gowns? A pantsuit? A pilgrim costume? I think their choice of attire was perfectly acceptable for the event.

Say what you want about the President, but you should leave his kids out of it. Don’t you think it’s hard enough for young girls all over the world to grow up in this day and age? What is it saying to all those young people out there when an adult, who obviously has a prominent position as a GOP staff person, cuts down two innocent girls in front of an entire nation? Talk about a bully. Talk about a mean girl. Talk about classless.

So, during this Thanksgiving/holiday time, I’m going to talk about some people in my life who have made a difference to me, to others, and who would never, ever use a position of power to humiliate another human being.

First up; my ex-mother-in-law- This lady is just about the nicest person you’ll ever meet. She makes me smile every time I see her, and my kids are lucky to have her as their grandma. Her son and I are divorced, of course, but she never blamed me, slammed me, talked about me, or shunned me. No matter how many stupid mistakes I’ve made in my life, she’s stood by me and supported me. She was my second mom for nearly seven years, and I couldn’t be luckier to still have her in my life. She’s one-of-a-kind, and those who are lucky enough to know her are truly blessed. 

And in talking about someone loving me despite my making stupid mistakes in life, I could never forget my own mother. She has raised me, loved me, accepted me, helped me, and taught me. I'm a better mother to my own children because of her. I'm a better person because of her. She has allowed me to be my own person, has given me the strength and grace I have to handle just about anything that comes along, and doesn't judge me. She taught me respect for myself and for others. What a great lesson to teach your children. What a great mom.

My Grandmother- My eighty-nine-year-old Grandmother (Grammy is what we call her), is such a special lady. She’s got a heart of gold and would give you the shirt off her back if you needed it. She is spunky and truthful, and she doesn’t shy away from telling you like it is. I’m OK with that, even if it means she tells me I’ve put on a few pounds (and she has told me that on more than one occasion). She tells me to stop buying her gifts for birthdays and Christmas, but I know she secretly delights in receiving fancy packages in the mail, so I keep buying her stuff. I love the way her voice sounds when she calls to thank me and says, “Now Tammi, you shouldn’t spend your money on me, but I like it.” It really doesn’t get more honest or better than that, now does it? My early memories of her are those of riding in a car for hours to visit, me running into her house immediately upon arrival, opening the refrigerator, and seeing my favorite dessert there just waiting for me to eat it.  Every time. She never forgot. In all my years of knowing this woman, I have never once heard her say a bad word about anyone.  The world would be a better place if it were filled with more women like my Grammy.

My very best friend, Kimmy- I’ve known this woman since she was three-years-old and I was five. She’s been in my life forever. She’s seen me at my worst and my best, and loved me through all of it. At my worst, she never judged, she never criticized. She supported me, talked with me, prayed for me, and helped me. She’s an excellent mother to two of the most wonderful children on the planet, and she chose so wisely a husband who is as equally tremendous as she. If you would like to see a true Christian person in action, it’s this woman whom I admire greatly. We should all strive to be like her.

Several teachers at my sons’ school/s- I can’t name each one because I’d be too afraid to leave someone out. The truth is, nearly every single teacher my two sons has ever had has repeatedly gone above and beyond to guide them, educate them, mother them, instruct them, and teach them right from wrong. If I have ever had a concern, no matter how big or small, and I’ve contacted a teacher, that teacher, every single one of them, has answered me that very same day, addressing my concern as if my child was the only child in his/her classroom. It’s awe-inspiring, it’s motivating, and it’s not always like this at every school. We are lucky. I am lucky. My boys are lucky.

There are so many more people I have in my life to thank and to be grateful for. I think I’ll write more blogs such as this, and include more of these amazing people, during this holiday time.  Look for them in the next coming weeks.  You might just be one of the people I mention here! ; )