The Day I Realized Parenting Is Political

I used to think politics lived somewhere far away from my kitchen table. Politics was something that happened in government buildings, on debate stages, or in news headlines scrolling across my phone while I folded laundry. Politics felt optional and very separate from my daily life as a parent. Then one day changed everything.

It wasn’t dramatic in the way movies portray turning points. No protest marches. No viral moment. Just me, heading to the pharmacy to pick up my son’s prescription after a long, exhausting day. This wasn’t his first time receiving this prescription, but we changed insurance carriers.

Earlier that evening, I had waited on hold with his pediatrician, which was a common reoccurrence in order to request a refill. I had answered their monthly questions & filled out forms that asked me to summarize my child’s updates. 

The pharmacist welcomed me to the counter and asked for my son’s demographic information. She returned to the counter and recited the total “$476.85”. I’m sure she was using a normal tone of voice, but hearing that number sent a shockwave through my body and I felt like she was whispering. I asked her to repeat herself and when the information didn’t change, I froze in shock. Eventually, I asked her why the price changed so much and she informed me that  due to my new deductible not being met, I would pay this total. I made a split decision and purchased it, but felt sick on the ride home. Making this purchase was not included in my budget, but what could I do? 

I returned home and my children were sound asleep. I cried for a moment. This was so unfair. The insurance carrier was the same, but the type of insurance policy we had was different. How could such a drastic change occur with the stroke of a pen?

As I watched my son sleep, questions hit me like a wave:

Every challenge I faced that day had been shaped by a policy decision. Why is it that parents aren’t included in these policy decisions? 

Were parents involved and why wasn’t I asked? 

Were the policy makers parents as well?

That’s when it clicked. Parenting IS political.

Not because I suddenly wanted to argue about parties or elections but because systems were shaping my family’s life in ways I could no longer ignore.

I saw it in access to healthcare.

I saw it in special education services.

I saw it in childcare costs.

I saw it in waitlists for therapies.

I saw it in transportation barriers, food programs, disability supports, and mental health resources.

None of those things are accidents.

They are outcomes of legislation, funding priorities, and leadership choices.

As parents, we make hundreds of decisions every day: what our kids eat, how they learn, how we discipline, how we show love. However, layered underneath those personal choices are public ones. Decisions are made by people we may never meet, determining what resources exist for our families and who gets left behind.

That night, I stopped thinking of advocacy as something “extra.”

It became part of my job description as a parent.

I realized that staying quiet didn’t protect my family. Being overwhelmed didn’t excuse disengagement, and hoping someone else would fix broken systems was not a strategy.

I didn’t suddenly become an expert in policy. I didn’t start attending every meeting or reading every bill. What changed was my awareness and my willingness to speak.

I started asking questions.

Why are families forced to prove hardship over and over just to receive basic support?

Why do caregivers burn out while navigating fragmented systems?

Why are children’s needs debated as budget line items instead of human realities?

And perhaps most importantly:

Who is at the table when these decisions are made and why aren’t more parents there?

Parenting has taught me that advocacy doesn’t always look loud or polished. Sometimes it looks like sending one email after bedtime. Sometimes it looks like testifying while your voice shakes. Sometimes it looks like sharing your story so another parent feels less alone.

Politics isn’t just campaigns and headlines.

It’s whether your child gets early intervention.

It’s whether your family can afford prescriptions.

It’s whether schools have the staffing they need.

It’s whether caregivers receive respite.

It’s whether disability services are accessible, dignified, and person-centered.

Once you see it, you can’t unsee it.

And once you realize that parenting is political, you begin to understand that loving your child also means fighting for systems that honor them.

I don’t advocate because I enjoy it.

I advocate because my family deserves a world that works.

I advocate because no family should have to navigate complex systems alone.

I advocate because policies written in quiet rooms ripple loudly through our homes.

That night beside my child’s bed didn’t make me partisan.

It made me intentional. It reminded me that parenting isn’t just about raising children, but it’s about shaping the world they grow up in. And that responsibility belongs to all of us.

What is Politics & Parenting? 

I have visited the Virginia General Assembly building many times. In fact, I have visited government buildings in various states over the years as well. However, witnessing the annual recognition of African American legislators in Virginia lit a spark in me. I returned from Richmond,VA with so much excitement about the bills I have been advocating for passing their respective chambers earlier in the day and for once, I felt hopeful for change. However, as the night went on, I realized that the same families that I am advocating for often don’t know what to do and how to get involved. On the other hand, I thought about how politicians that are also parents use their lived experience to drive policy. 

Parenting and Politics aims to help families understand how everyday decisions at home connect to policies made in government. It’s about translating complex civic issues into the real-life impact of healthcare, education, disability services, childcare, and community support through the lens of parents and caregivers. By centering our lived experience. Parenting & Politics empowers families to learn, speak up, and advocate for systems that truly support their children and communities.