The Politics of Childhood

n. politics
the principles relating to or inherent in a sphere or activity, especially when concerned with power and status ie. “the politics of gender”

Childhood relations are such that they are defined within the perimeters of your immediate family. That leaves you little choice with who, or what, you engage with. As an adult, you choose your own friends. You choose how you spend your evenings, you choose who you see, and who you don’t see.

But the politics of childhood is such, that there was never that choice. As a child, you lived in your parents’ domain, and often, under the shadow of siblings. As an adult, you have the freedom to choose. You reassess your background, and your friends from the past. You decide if they are baggage, or if the relationship is to be renewed.

If you choose the latter, you must know that this relationship was first introduced to you by your very first form of community – your family. As such, they will feel the right to speak into your life, and into your relationship. Sometimes that’s a good thing, but sometimes it’s unwelcomed.

The most important thing is that you choose to “re”-know this person for yourself. All this is to be done outside the opinions of those closest to you, including those of your own judgements, positive and negative, true and untrue, formed at an early age.