My Leftist Son....! ? !

[EastTexasRancher]

My son, who up until the day he left for college was a solid 2A supporter, hunter, and otherwise conservative kid.

NOW.....he's graduating from A&M (of all places!!!) in two months, and is damn near a leftist. He RAILS against the NRA, the 1%'rs, (of course
while enjoying his privilege), and anybody that doesn't fully embraces "weirdness". He lost his mind after the events in Florida, and really went off the rails, equating gun owners to baby killers...of course while fully supporting planned parenthood.

I'm so tempted to sell his items in my safe (of course paid for with MY money...so they're technically mine), and donate that money to the NRA in his name.

It's not like we talk a lot. I've grown to where I love him, but I'm not sure I like him any more.

Anybody else have a kid like this? Just what the heck are you supposed to do? I'm truly heartbroken.

*sigh*

[omegaman]

That's really sad EastTexasRancher. Both of my kids (son and daughter in their 30s) are pro-2A, pro-guns, logical thinking conservatives, so I can only imagine what it must be like to be disappointed in your child. Perhaps he will come around with maturity.

[carlson1]

I don’t have one that has left the 2A, but they have left church and the fundamentals they were taught. My youngest seldom even takes his family and attends church. I have learned to live with a broken heart so far. Praying you find middle ground.

[flechero]

Sorry to hear that. I wouldn't sell your stuff- keep it (unless you really don't like it) Hmm... is there a new girl in the fold? Wondering if you put him through school or gave him a car when he went to A&M or paid his living expenses, etc.

Remind him of those things and remind him to respect his elders (you) and let him know you'll take a low interest rate on the payback (similar to student loans) for all the assistance.

When he has a wife and child(ren) to protect, I bet he changes his tune a bit. Until then, just hope that he comes to his senses and doesn't need to defend himself.


We get mad at family easily sometimes... but he's still your son and one day you will want to restore the relationship. I hope it's sooner than later, for both your sake.

[Middle Age Russ]

The halls of universities have largely become echo chambers for supposedly learned people (with advanced degrees, no less) who KNOW so much that is simply wrong. Sending young people there to learn is apt to have predictable results in too many cases, and only kids firmly grounded in timeless principles and ideals proven to benefit society are likely to emerge with greater beneficial knowledge than they had going in. I pray that your son, like so many in recent generations, is but temporarily afflicted with Progressive ideas and becomes more conservative as his experience in the world beyond university grows.

[E10]

This may seem a sacrilege, but you did say ‘weirdness’ - are you sure he wasn’t in Austin?

I’m going through the same with my son. Four years at UT, medical school in Houston, five years residency at Stanford with two years of research in France, and just last evening we WhatsAp debated gun control and banning ARs. Hopefully he’ll come back to Texas next year and straighten himself out.

Give your son time. I think it’s a phase we all go through to some extent. Hopefully they’ll both come to learn how the world really works. Good luck.

[EastTexasRancher]

Sorry to hear that. I wouldn't sell your stuff- keep it (unless you really don't like it) Hmm... is there a new girl in the fold?

**NEW GIRL? Who would assume "girl"? "GENDER IS FLUID DAD....YOU'RE SO OLD SCHOOL TO THINK OTHERWISE"

Wondering if you put him through school or gave him a car when he went to A&M or paid his living expenses, etc.

I paid CASH for his four years/ two degrees, one minor, tuition, room, board, living expenses, and a car.

[bblhd672]

Im sorry to hear this, it’s very hard to deal with when your children abandon the values you instilled in them. Change the combination of your safe if your son knows it. Don’t sell anything. If he demands to have what is “his” then tell him that you will be happy to allow him to reimburse you for the weapons you purchased for his use. I wouldn’t argue with him about it nor would I allow him to spew leftist vitriol in my house.
Someday, hopefully, he will wake up.

[rotor]

This is a phase of youth and hopefully with age comes wisdom. Even I was a liberal when I was at that age. Don't give up.

[dino9832]

Sorry to hear that. I wouldn't sell your stuff- keep it (unless you really don't like it) Hmm... is there a new girl in the fold? Wondering if you put him through school or gave him a car when he went to A&M or paid his living expenses, etc.

Remind him of those things and remind him to respect his elders (you) and let him know you'll take a low interest rate on the payback (similar to student loans) for all the assistance.

When he has a wife and child(ren) to protect, I bet he changes his tune a bit. Until then, just hope that he comes to his senses and doesn't need to defend himself.


We get mad at family easily sometimes... but he's still your son and one day you will want to restore the relationship. I hope it's sooner than later, for both your sake.

How old was your son 8 years ago? You have to remember that many kids (mine included) were raised under the Obama presidency. For them, this is how things always were. Then along comes Trump shaking things up! And of course the liberal school system is FULL of anti-Trump supporters. Supporting Trump in colleges these days could be downright dangerous. From teachers grading you harder to dreamers threatening to tar and feather a guy.

With life comes some hard lessons. It's a shame we become more cynical in our old age. But many times, that's what experience brings you.

...but he's still your son and one day you will want to restore the relationship....

Kids are going to be who they're going to be. They change every year your raising them. For me, I just take a deep breath and try not to do or say anything I'll regret. Chances are this is just a fad and he'll get it over it. He is, after all, YOUR son. Most of the time the acorn doesn't fall far from the tree!

[flechero]

Sorry to hear it, Brother. So your hard work and dedication has paid for his ability to blossom into a snowflake... Wow, your probably $150k (likely more) into that. I hope he at least appreciates your sacrifice to pay for his education and years of care free living!

Yeah, my view of the world is pretty old school... funny how gender has been concrete for thousands of years. I'm so glad some progressives figured out that the whole world and it's Creator have been wrong all this time!

Kids (and professors) these days!

[Pawpaw]

When I was 18, my father was the stupidest person on the face of the earth. It amazed me that he could tie his own shoes. Wait a minute! He wore Wellington boots, so that solved that problem.

Sometime between my 22nd and 25th birthdays (when I had a wife and kids of my own), the old man got really smart overnight! I never did figure out how that happened.

[Jay2121]

Sorry to hear he will come around one day when he becomes responsible for himself and others. My son is an Aggie vet. He went in conserative came out more conservative. Married with a son. My biggest issue is having to tell him to slow down on all the weaponry he buys. Yeah I know, he got it from me. I still have to control my urges. Hang in there.

[Abraham]

Yeah, I was once a liberal. I was also in my very early twenties and full of youthful baloney.

Plus, under-educated regarding politics.

He'll either grow out of it or do without any aid from you in the future.

My granddaughters are full of this and that, but I've yet to hear any commie views, if I do, there goes their monetary help...hey, if socialism is what they desire, good for them, try getting anything out of me.

My will can be changed....

[lildave40]

Well look on the bright side. At least he still Identifies as a man.