You probably think this is another cute selfie.
It’s not.
As I sit here and think about the meaning behind this picture, and those two little girls in it, tears fill my eyes.
They’re currently sitting next to me enjoying a popsicle unaware of what has happened this week and the drastic affects on their futures.
I would never describe myself as political.
However, for the last two to three weeks I have spent my days listening to the MO Senate while working.
I’ve been listening for HB229 to be heard on the Senate floor.
HB229 is the equal parenting bill that would allow-no, require-these two girls have just as much time with their dad as they currently have with their mother’s boyfriend.
Yes, you read that right.
They often see their mother’s boyfriend more often than their own father, to no fault of his own.
Their Dad hasn’t done anything wrong, in fact, he has fought tooth and nail to be in his daughters’ lives. He works harder than anyone I know. When we don’t have the girls, he works late nights at the office and at home, gets up extra early, and works weekends so he can write one. more. policy. All so we have a little more money for the court fund. A little more money to pour into the chance that this time he might get more time with them.
Ten days a month is not enough.
Now you probably think this post is about equal parenting.
It’s not. I mean, it is, but not wholly.
So bare with me.
This week, I’ve heard the Senate debate-and pass-the Heartbeat Bill. The debate revolved around a little girl of 11 years who was raped and impregnated. The debate seemed to fall on deaf ears.
This post isn’t about rape or abortion.
Because I also heard the Senate debate whether it was too much government control to force someone to wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle.
Senate decided it was.
This post isn’t about helmets or government overreach.
Then, I heard two Senators debating on access to birth control. A female senator nearly begged a male senator to not make it more difficult to access birth control. That debate also seemed to fall on deaf ears.
This post isn’t about birth control.
Then, I heard a Senator argue a bill that had passed earlier in the session.
He was told twice.
He responded that he believed they must be passing too much legislation and are moving too fast.
This post isn’t about that, either.
Then, I listened for thirty. five. minutes. as various Senators stood and added amendments to the Sliced. Bread. Bill.
I shit you not. Today, our Senate not only voted on, but amended and debated, Sliced Bread Day in Missouri.
It gets better.
Our Senate President began discussing Grumpy Cat and announced he had intended to spend an hour today talking about his love for Grumpy Cat.
This post isn’t about sliced bread or unhappy cats.
Today, I asked when the session began and was told our Senate is k n o w n for being late, so although it was scheduled to begin at 10am, it would most likely not start until 10:35am.
Unfortunately, they were correct.
This post isn’t about punctuality.
I’m still listening.
The same question has been asked and answered 3 times.
This isn’t about that, either, though.
So what is it about, right?
It’s not about another cute selfie.
It’s about disappointment.
Disappointment in the system.
Disappointment in our elected officials.
Disappointment that sliced bread and grumpy cats are more important than equal time with capable and willing parents.
Disappointment that ‘they’ want to make birth control less accessible while banning abortions but not require equal time with capable and willing parents.
Disappointment that they’re making jokes, and not paying attention to what bills have already passed and what has already been answered.
Disappointment that our futures aren’t important enough to show up on time for or to act with a sense of urgency.
We have 37 minutes left in the 2019 Session.
Thirty. Seven. Minutes.
HB229 probably won’t be heard today.
HB229 probably won’t be heard this year.
This isn’t another cute selfie.
These are the faces of females who are losing control over their future, but more than that, these are the faces of two little girls who miss their Dada.
As a child-and adult-of divorce, I understand the importance of having your Dad prominently in your life. I want that for these little girls.
Not because I love their dad.
Not because I know he’s an amazing father.
Not because I want to see them more.
Because it is essential to their growth and development and I wholeheartedly know it is for their best interest.
Because I lived it, too.
We have to do better.
We cannot settle for and accept what I’ve heard the last several weeks.
Our children deserve better. So. much. better.
I would never describe myself as political.
My experience the last several weeks is making me reconsider that.
As the adults and parents educating and bringing up the next generation, we have to do more for them. We have to raise our expectations-of them, but more importantly of ourselves, of our government.
We all deserve better than a dilatory government and sliced bread.
This isn’t another cute selfie.