The Election

Last week we went as a family down to our local polling station for early voting. We've been talking at home about the election and why we like our candidate. The kids have become quite enthusiastic about the election. As we stood in the line at city hall waiting to be admitted to the voting room, the children were full of questions - in voices that were often too loud. But we survived the event and as we all received our "I voted" stickers it was decided that we should go out to celebrate voting. Some people might call me a geek but I am all for eating out and happily agreed to celebrate the electoral process! Hey, this could even be a family tradition in the making!

The next day on the ride to school my oldest is full of questions about John McCain and Barack Obama (Who is the better helper? Who is the better talker? Who is the better winner? Who do we like better? Who is older John McCain or PawPaw? Is Barack Obama smarter than John McCain? Well, my teacher likes Barack Obama and I just know because I saw it in her eyes when I asked her even though she didn't answer me, I know." and on and on...) All the while the youngest keeps repeating "Bawack Obmama" every 3 seconds for the entire 20 minute drive. My knuckles were whiter, my eyes wider and my breathing was deeper than normal by the time we arrived at school.

As we drove home in the afternoon listening to NPR, portions of the candidate's speeches were playing. The oldest continued her barrage of questions telling me that one of the boys in her class says that Barack Obama is the "bestest champion of the world!" while my youngest again repeated "Bawack Obmama" at regular intervals throughout the entire ride home.

On Tuesday, the school held a mock election for students to practice citizenship and vote for their candidate. After voting the kindergartners received "I voted" stickers just like we did at the polling station.

After school we stopped at the preschool to pick up the youngest. He noticed the "I voted" sticker on big sis and was then given the complete "low down" on the voting at kindergarten, who won the election, why she didn't agree with the results and wanted to watch the news to see if that person really wins or not... I was just waiting for the "Bawack Obmamas" to start up again but instead his response was simply a pout and whiny, "But why I not get to bote?"

Trying to comfort my child who obviously wants to be included in the process of selecting our great nation's next president (and who am I to discourage this?!) I pat him on the leg with deep understanding and tell him not to worry that he can vote too. Smiling I ask him who he wants to vote for; realizing that this may be a silly question considering that I really don't want to be hypnotized again during our drive by the broken record of "Bawack Obmama"- but he is an American citizen after all and we have had so many conversations about the election.

I look eagerly into the eyes of my 3-year old awaiting his answer. His little pointer finger lightly rests on his upper lip and his eyes roll to the ceiling as he thinks. A moment later the "ummmm" starts followed by his decision...

"I bote po Auntie Shawen".

Auntie Sharon will be so proud. She was the "write-in" vote of a 3-year old. What a compliment. Sorry "Bawack Obmama".