If my parents wear MAGA hats and I don Bernie pins, you can guess we’ve had some fiery dinner table debates.
Navigating the political minefield within a family isn’t child’s play; it’s complex, emotional, and at times, downright exhausting.
Yet, here we are: Our relationship is stronger than ever—so, how did we manage such a feat?
Here’s the story of how my MAGA-loving parents and I mended our political rifts and rebuilt our relationship from scratch:
1) Establishing common ground
Believe it or not, we all have more in common than we think.
Sure, my MAGA parents and I might not see eye to eye on healthcare reform or climate change policies.
But, at the end of the day, we all want what’s best for our country.
We just have different perspectives on what that looks like.
Finding this common ground was tough—it required a lot of patience, open conversations, and swallowing of pride—but it was worth it.
Once we acknowledged that our intentions were the same, the wall between us started to crumble.
We began to see each other not as political rivals, but as family members with differing views.
2) Adopting empathy
One heated evening, while we were neck-deep in another political debate, something shifted.
I remember my mom, eyes welled up with tears, saying, “I just wish you could see it from our perspective.”
That hit me hard.
I realized I’d been so focused on getting them to understand my views that I’d completely neglected to genuinely attempt to understand theirs.
So, I decided to change my approach.
I started asking more questions, not with the intention of countering their points but to truly comprehend their beliefs and fears.
This empathy didn’t magically bridge our ideological differences overnight, but it did pave the way for more respectful and constructive conversations.
Slowly but surely, it began healing the cracks in our relationship.
3) Leaving politics at the door
Did you know that in ancient Rome, all weapons had to be left outside the Senate house as a precaution against violent outbreaks during heated debates?
We adopted a similar, albeit metaphorical, rule in our household; we agreed to leave our political ‘weapons’ at the door during family time.
This meant no political discussions during dinner, no political news in the background while we’re together in the living room, and absolutely no political debates during holiday gatherings.
Without any political tension hovering over us, this helped create a safe zone where we could enjoy each other’s company.
It reminded us that our bond as a family is deeper and more important than any political disagreement.
4) Agreeing to disagree
There’s an old saying that no two people are alike, and this couldn’t be truer for my parents and me.
We realized that it was unrealistic to expect total agreement on all political matters.
So, we made a pact—we agreed to disagree.
This didn’t mean we stopped discussing politics altogether.
Instead, we learned to respect each other’s views, even when we fundamentally disagreed with them.
This simple agreement helped ease the tension considerably, allowing us to discuss our beliefs without the pressure of convincing the other side—fostering an environment of mutual respect and understanding.
5) Focusing on personal growth
After many heated debates, I realized that my parents’ political views were not a reflection of me, and vice versa.
Their beliefs are theirs and mine are mine.
I decided to use our differences as a learning opportunity.
Instead of viewing their perspectives as an attack, I started to see them as a chance to broaden my own understanding and challenge my beliefs.
By shifting my mindset this way, I found myself growing personally and intellectually.
It also made me more tolerant and patient, not just with my parents but in other aspects of life too.
6) Encouraging the debate
While it may seem counterproductive, we decided to encourage more political debates, not less—but with a twist.
Instead of trying to ‘win,’ we made it about learning from each other.
We set rules for our debates to ensure they remained respectful and constructive.
No personal attacks, no raised voices, and most importantly, an open mind.
By reframing these debates as a platform for understanding rather than a battlefield, they became less about differences and more about gaining perspective.
This ironically led to fewer fights and more productive discussions.
7) Prioritizing our relationship
At the end of the day, we realized that our relationship as a family was far more important than any political disagreement.
We made a conscious effort to prioritize our bond over our differing political views; we introduced more non-political activities into our routine, like movie nights and Sunday brunches, to remind ourselves of the love and respect we have for each other.
By putting our relationship first, we were able to navigate through our political differences without letting them define or damage our bond.
Having this shift in priority was instrumental in repairing and strengthening our relationship.
8) Understanding that it’s a journey
Repairing a relationship strained by political differences is not a one-time fix.
It’s a continuous journey of patience, understanding, and mutual respect.
Understanding this requires constant effort and commitment from all parties involved—but, trust me, it’s worth every bit of the struggle.
Embracing the journey
If you’ve come this far, you hopefully grasp the essence of this journey.
Mending a relationship strained by political differences isn’t about winning or losing an argument.
It’s about understanding, empathy, and respect.
Mark Twain once said, “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”
In the context of repairing relationships, this rings particularly true.
The first step towards healing is acknowledging the rift and making a conscious effort to bridge it.
Remember, we don’t have to agree with each other’s beliefs to respect them.
We don’t have to share the same political views to love each other as family.
It all comes down to our willingness to put our relationship above our differences.
Here’s hoping that you too can navigate through your political differences with your loved ones, just like my MAGA parents and I did!
