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Original poster

How are your older teen/young adult children reacting to the election?

333 replies

BertrandRussell · 13/12/2019 13:42

My 18 year old is incredibly upset- it was his first opportunity to vote and he feel very let down by Corbyn.

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Bigredumbrella · 13/12/2019 15:10

My Eldest voted for the first time and he is happy with the results. He did some research and made his decision around what he saw as the best Economic vote. We voted 3 different ways in our house. We had a great eve watching the results come in and taking about why we voted the way we did. No fall outs or name calling.

rhubarbcrumbles · 13/12/2019 15:11

Even a Court Jester seems to know more than fans of Corbyn, who just led his party to its worst defeat since 1935, while Boris Johnson won the biggest Tory majority since 1987!

Clearly proving that it's not intelligence that gets the Court Jester their position.

MurrayTheMonk · 13/12/2019 15:13

My 14 year old was gutted on hearing the news this morning. But then said 'but Mum what can we do about it now to make it better next time, because this is a joke'. Never been more proud. She will be able to vote next time just about I think...

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18 years old
bengalcat · 13/12/2019 15:17

No idea she’s not back from Uni yet . Although she was registered to vote in both London and Durham she asked me to put a proxy vote in for her in London . We’re both remainers so no doubt she’s disappointed - I’m rather more pragmatic . Told her to look back over both places results in recent years and vote where she thought it might count count more . Was suprised when she chose home as Labour remain albeit with a reduced share .

Cruddles · 13/12/2019 15:18

My niece is already leaving - Australia is gaining an excellent midwife

Australian politics is just as bad, grass isn't greener

Samcro · 13/12/2019 15:28

ds is well and truly fucked off. but taking it like an adult and having a day of not talking about it and then planning to raise money for his disabled sisters care home.

mbosnz · 13/12/2019 15:32

Good on your DS Samcro, that's fantastic - really positive and resilient.

It's easier for us older ones, we've generally lived through bitter disappointments, where we'd had such high hopes, and realised that the world didn't end, the sun (or rain) still came as expected the next day, and that ultimately, that too did pass.

Anywhere you go in the world, you will get a Government you vehemently disagree with sooner or later.

Sittinonthefloor · 13/12/2019 15:36

Relieved - country dwelling, grammar school girl, with parent & other family employed by independent schools. We are basically the sort of people Corbyn hates. She doesn’t like Johnson though.

VirginiaCreeper · 13/12/2019 15:37

Both fairly relaxed. One voted Green and the other voted Labour. The Labour voter despises Corbyn but lives in a safe Labour seat (there are still a few apparently). Both of them might have voted Lib Dem if it hadn't been for their policy to revoke article 50 as they saw that as undemocratic.

Original poster
BertrandRussell · 13/12/2019 15:39

“ Relieved - country dwelling, grammar school girl“
I can see why the being employed by private schools might be a concern. But why does Corbyn hate country dwelling grammar school girls?

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Original poster
BertrandRussell · 13/12/2019 15:49

My children are both country dwelling ex grammar as well- and they are both very firmly on the Left. And ironically, one of them is employed by a private school!

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BearSoFair · 13/12/2019 15:53

17yo DS1 is disgusted. He was gutted beforehand that the election was happening a few months before he turns 18 (March) so he couldn't vote but I think he really felt that the young vote would give a better result for Labour. I think (much like me really) he never expected a Labour majority but was shocked by just how comfortably the Tories won.

BarbedBloom · 13/12/2019 16:03

All three of my friend's children have been applying for jobs abroad today, so I think that says it all. One of them said to me they don't feel there is a place here for them. Sad

mbosnz · 13/12/2019 16:13

Can I very respectfully suggest that perhaps we need to provide a little bit of perspective?

Understandable at being gutted, angry and worried.

But this is not forever, there will be another election.

This country is still a peaceful country, it is not at war, we are not fearing for our lives or our children's lives. We still have (okay, not particularly satisfactorily) function schools, hospitals, etc.

Think about what some immigrants are fleeing. Sometimes I have heard it said that they should stay and fight and be part of making their country safe and whole again.

There are massive concerns, particularly for the disabled, those on UC, those with chronic and serious health issues, those with SEND children. These are the ones who would find it very hard, if not impossible, to leave the country in disgust and despair.

Dunno what I'm trying to say. Just - well, maybe just let everything settle a bit before making any dramatic decisions.

Don't completely write off this country yet.

Sorry if I offend anyone.

RiftGibbon · 13/12/2019 16:17

I've an 8 year old who is very concerned about the environment, and about equality/equity. Needless to say they are not at all impressed with the election outcome.
DC can't understand how people can't care about each other and would vote for someone who clearly cares only about themself.

turkeyontheplate · 13/12/2019 16:19

Upset, angry, and planning to claim their Irish citizenship so the can remain Europeans and get the hell out of this.

Parky04 · 13/12/2019 16:23

My DS19 and DS18 couldn't care less. DS19 voted Tory just because the Uni labour activists tried to bully everyone to vote Labour so he and lots of friends voted Tory. DS18 voted for Labour was disappointed that he wouldn't get free broadband until I reminded him that I pay for it anyway!

BrexitMakeItStop · 13/12/2019 16:24

15 yr old, furious and upset. Can't believe people fell for the lies. Really upset nothing will be done about climate crisis or funding in schools. Extremely pissed off at losing freedom of movement, so he can't even escape to EU easily if he wanted. Stuck here. I suspect he will go elsewhere after studies. I would.

Texting friends all night. All upset. All v politically engaged. They ll all be voting next time. I assume it will be 5 yrs, but who knows?

Answerthequestion · 13/12/2019 16:26

My 17 year old and the friends who stayed over are delighted. They recognise that there were strengths in the Labour Party but as young British Jews they felt that labour wasn’t for them. I’m enormously proud of them. Next time when there’s a proper labour leader they can make a different decision

TheFairyCaravan · 13/12/2019 16:27

DS1 is out of the country but text to say he's glad to see the end of Corbyn and I agree with him.

I've not spoken to DS2 but he didn't vote Tory or Labour, none of us did, and I know he has no plans to leave the country.

LittleSweet · 13/12/2019 16:31

Both dcs are angry and upset. They are 12 and 15. But I wonder if it's to do with how we've brought them up. They care about people and have empathy for others less fortunate than themselves. They see me put food into the food bank collection and I tell them why. They have been raised to care about society as a whole and not just their immediate family. They also value equality, for everyone.
Maybe it's because they are autistic they see the world differently from most people. I'm so proud of them.

Sunshine1239 · 13/12/2019 16:33

Dd was upset initially until I counterbalanced all the bias crap she’d need fed re promoting labour in school

She’s ok now I’ve explained it fully and happy with result

Original poster
BertrandRussell · 13/12/2019 16:37

“She’s ok now I’ve explained it fully and happy with result“ Grin

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Charlottejbt · 13/12/2019 16:38

DD1 and DS are rather downbeat. I regret dragging DS (18) to the polling station in the wind and rain. What an utter waste of time.

Greywind1523 · 13/12/2019 16:38

I agree @mbosnz.

I (like many others no doubt) felt that I voted for the best of a bad bunch.

The result will temporarily end the economic state of flux we’ve been in for the last couple of years which can only be a good thing. I work in an industry where we’ve already seen a massive amount of activity today as compared with the last few months. People have been hanging on to make big financial decisions and we’ve been teetering on the brink of recession for the last couple of quarters.

We all need to try and remain positive, make the best of the situation and hope that BJ can deliver what he promises. Let’s face it, no political party is able to find sufficient financial resources to direct money everywhere that it is needed straight away. All the scaremongering about an immediate impact to people on low incomes, the NHS, children, people with disabilities is completely unnecessary. In reality, nothing is going to change immediately (for the better or worse). This would have been the case whoever was moving into No. 10 today.

FWIW I voted remain but now think the country will be better off leaving the EU than going into another period of uncertainty with the unknown quantity, JC.