My mom and dad never had a lot of money. Neither of them had the advantage of a college education, and they both worked hard in their blue-collar jobs. We never went hungry, but we didn’t have a lot of luxuries. They bought a small home, paid it off, and lived there until they couldn’t live without assistance.
But they did their best to provide for my older sister and me, and we never felt that we lacked anything. I embraced values that my parents modeled for me and those traits have served me well, both personally and professionally, to this day.
My parents assumed I’d go to college. They helped as much as they could, I worked three summer jobs, and four years after high school I graduated from Michigan State.
Donald Trump wasn’t there. So, when he recently suggested, in a speech to autoworkers in Michigan, that he has done more for me than my parents, it gave me pause.
“I’ve done more for you than your parents, okay? Your parents are good. I’m not going to knock your parents, but I have been better to you than your parents.” He added, “That I can tell you, and they would agree with me. Wherever they may be, they would agree.”
My parents would not agree.
Who would even say such a thing?
Let’s analyze Trump’s statements about my parents. In fact, maybe he meant he has done more TO us than FOR us. That, at least, is a conversation worth having.
But let’s assume, just for yucks, he meant exactly what he said. After all, he couldn’t lie at Lindsey Graham’s funeral, a situation that actually allows, and even calls for, little white lies about the deceased. His eulogy offered an interesting view, during a rare segment that was not about himself, remembering that, “Virtually everyone, Republican or Democrat, liked Lindsey. Well, not everybody, but it sounds good. Not everybody,” Does this guy actually care about anyone?
My parents, as most do, changed diapers, endured sleepless nights, dealt with sickness, coordinated science projects, addressed sports injuries, and, perhaps not happily, replaced my tennis shoes every two weeks during tennis season.
They taught me to say “please” and “thank you,” to shake hands properly, to respect all people, and they wouldn’t let my sister hit me. Later, they wouldn’t let me hit her.
My dad coached my Little League teams and taught me to drive. My mom encouraged me to become less shy/more confident (finally did that) and tried not to share her thoughts on my dating choices. They both attended my wedding.
They taught me to ride a bike and I’m still doing that. In fact, I’m still doing most of those things.
Parents do all of these things because that’s what parents do. It’s astonishing that anyone can claim to have done more for you than your parents. And just as amazing is how rally-goers can show such fealty to cheer wildly at the statement? In America, you have a right to your own opinions. Some have forfeited that right.
I don’t remember Donald Trump helping with my homework, fixing my bicycle chain, or pretending that my shop-class ashtray was artwork he’d been waiting for his whole life. In fact, I’m still trying to figure out what he’s done for me, or for you.
Maybe he really did mean that he has done more TO us than our parents ever did…
I can work with that. He has certainly dominated news cycles. He has managed to turn Thanksgiving dinners into family discussions where your uncle storms out before he finishes his mashed potatoes because he got angry when someone mentioned I.C.E.
He has inspired family members to unfriend one another on social media, and he has convinced millions of Americans that they are constitutional scholars after reading three Truth Social posts and watching a half hour of Sean Hannity.
My parents never sold sneakers, Bibles, meme coins, watches, gold sneakers, or superhero trading cards. They never tried to monetize Christmas and never claimed to be the best parents to ever raise a child.
They never promised that they could solve every problem. They just showed up, without applause, without bragging, trying to do their best without demanding anything.
Good parents don’t boast of their efforts or bemoan their sacrifices. They just keep sacrificing. As the kids grow up, they realize that mom and dad were right about almost everything.
Maybe that’s the lesson. Good parents don’t bore us with tales of how wonderful their parenting skills are; they just spend a lifetime of being wonderful. Thanks, Mom and Dad.
And thanks, Uncle Donald… for reminding us of who actually deserves our gratitude.
Curt MacRae is a resident of Coldwater, MI and publishes opinion columns regularly.
To be notified by email when a column is published, or to offer feedback: rantsbymac@gmail.com
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