Opinion: Why Melania Trump is an incredible role model for mothers
Melania Trump will forever be associated with her husband, Donald Trump. While he was building his real estate empire, Melania paused her modeling career to focus all her energy on her newborn son, Barron.
In more recent years, with Donald Trump receiving swathes of criticism for outspoken nature and the many court cases leveled against him, Melania has found herself sharing the same negative light.
Yet just because her husband has made people furious – and many others overjoyed – is it fair that Melania should be forced into the same box? We often forget much about her, including how much energy and, most importantly, love she gives her son. I’d say she is a fantastic role model for all mothers out there.
Like any other First Lady before her, Melania Trump has been criticized, often for things she had said or done. Everyone makes mistakes, but due to the controversial nature of Donald Trump’s presidency, the criticism against her sometimes overstepped the mark.
Sure, the fact that she wore the “I really don’t care, do you?” jacket during a trip to a migrant child detention center in 2018 wasn’t the smartest thing to do (though she maintains that it certainly wasn’t intentional). But many of the things Melania was criticized for during her tenure as First Lady was because of her husband. Does that seem fair? Not to me it doesn’t.
Some might only see Melania as Donald Trump’s wife — a woman who married very rich and didn’t have her own career. But that’s not true at all. Isn’t it time we praise Melania for how she’s managed to raise her and Donald’s son, Barron, the son of a reality television star, real estate mogul, and later President of the United States, in one of the most tumultuous environments possible?
Melania Trump – a role model for all mothers
Melania Trump was a successful model who left her home country of Slovenia, risking everything for a shot at fortune. She was alone when she arrived in the US, but with determination and belief, she made it. She and Donald Trump married in 2005, but when their son Barron was born in 2006, Melania put everything on hold.
In interviews over the years, it’s obvious that Melania practically raised Barron by herself. She did everything in her power to protect him from the scrutiny carried by her father’s celebrity status, repeatedly emphasizing how important family is to her.
When Trump won the 2016 Presidential Election, Melania didn’t go with him. Instead, she stayed in New York to allow Barron to finish school, to be there for him, support him, protect him, and do everything in her power to give him a stable environment. She always has — and continues to — put her son before her, even though the family could afford a full-time team of the world’s most expensive nannies if they wished.
Melania’s commitment to protecting Barron’s privacy has been incredible. Their son has barely been seen in public besides at funerals, his high school graduation, and his father’s celebration on Election Day.
Of course, that doesn’t have to be a positive thing, as Barron also deserves to make his own choices concerning his life, including whether or not to be a public figure. But in the end, Melania has been over-protective over her son to shield him from media scrutiny, which could very well have to do with his education.
“She should be praised for her efforts”
When Melania was First Lady, she initiated her “Be Best” initiative, spotlighting bullying problems and the importance of student well-being. I’d argue that Melania has been overly protective of Barron simply because she wants him to focus on school and not worry about what’s going on with his father or other family members who are constantly in and out of the media eye.
When she appeared on Fox News in October, Melania said that as a mother, you should “lead with love and take a child as individual. She added that you should ‘be cautious and be very loving,” and if that doesn’t sum it up, what does?
Melania has done an amazing job raising Barron, and she should be praised for her efforts. Raising a son in such a public environment, with the father being President of the United States, must be incredibly difficult.
On top of that, Melania has stressed the importance of not forgetting yourself as a mother. She has repeatedly urged mothers to care for themselves and pursue their dreams and goals. Just because you have a child doesn’t mean that your life, dreams, and career are over.
No matter what you think of Donald Trump’s politics or the Trump family as a whole, it’s time to acknowledge what an incredible job Melania has done raising Barron. I hope the 18-year-old has shown his appreciation for her — she really deserves it.
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