Conversations With My Daughter

Sometimes, my daughter amazes me. Really. Alyssa has been into the Presidential race from the beginning- mainly because of my influence. I'm open with my kids about everything, including politics. And this has been a history making race. Not something I thought I would ever see and now something that I want them to remember as the very first time there was a whisper of change.

She watched with me to see whether Senator Clinton or Senator Obama would win the nomination. She listened to the coverage, asked questions. I answered as best I could, keeping in mind that she would absorb this and take it with her later on. I encouraged her curiosity, talking with her about making intelligent choices, paying attention to what all the candidates, party aside, had to say. Because, for me, it isn't about the party. It's about the best person for the job. It isn't about your race, your gender, your religion. It's how you, in my eyes, will best serve our country and the people that live in it... how will your term help us to flourish?

Last month, she came home from school telling me about the mock election they would be holding. she wanted to know why she couldn't just vote, for real. She wants to vote. She's upset that she can't. I'm proud of that. And then, the hard hitting questions.

She wanted to know why people would or wouldn't vote for someone based on their color, their gender or their religion. I explained that some people see things differently, and that there are some who can't look past certain things to see a bigger picture. Here are Alyssa's opinions on that:

Voting for someone just because they're a woman is stupid. Same for NOT voting for the same reason. "I know we're smarter, Mom .. (oops...).. but still!"

Voting for / against someone because they are a different color is dumb. "It's what's inside that makes people good or bad, not what's outside." Very true, my smart girl. But not all people are open minded enough to see that.

Voting because of religion is dumb, too. "Isn't America here because we wanted to be free to believe what we want to?" Thank you, public education, for giving her that so early. That isn't sarcasm on my part, either. I appreciate her knowing these things when she's not so jaded against this or that.

Alyssa has an advantage when it comes to "different". She doesn't see it. Having Jake has given her that, and having me be open has given her more. She's never made fun of someone for being different, she's never understood why people are picked on for it. She seems to grasp the idea that some people don't see it that way, but she hasn't matured enough to realize that regardless, it will always be that way. Sadly. People will always be labeled, judged, etc. Unfortunately, it's the way the world seems to work. She understands, because of Jake, that people are cruel sometimes, and sometimes they just don't understand. We fear what we don't understand, a lot of the time. And we react to that.

She voted, proudly, in her election yesterday. She has watched coverage of Kids Pick the President. She's now fascinated with former Presidents, Abraham Lincoln in particular. To her, he made this election possible. She is enthralled with the idea of this first. Because either way, it will be a first. She is excited to be a part of it, even without being able to really vote. She actually seems to grasp some of the bigger issues and has very definite opinions about them. Some issues, of course, are too complicated, or mature, to explain to her. I'm open, but not when it involves explaining things she really doesn't need to know about. For now.

She blows me away sometimes. She really does. She is still so innocent in the ways of the world, but more informed than a lot of the adults I know who ARE allowed to vote. Scary. All I know is that this has affected her. She wants to know more about those who have changed the country, and she wants to know how she can too. And who knows, maybe one day she really will. At eight, she already seems more qualified than some. **cough**

So, go out and vote. Let's all hope that positive changes come from this election, and hope that we call all be united in our support of one another's choices. No more attacking or judging, or even condemning because of who we believe is the best choice. After all, isn't this about being free to make that choice? Just ask my daughter.

Finally, The Politics Take Over

Got this in an email from my Dad, and just had to share it. What do YOU think!?!?

"I am a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight.

* If you grow up in Hawaii , raised by your grandparents, you're
"exotic, different."

* Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, yours is a quintessential
American story.
======
* If your name is Barack you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.

* Name your kids Willow,Trig and Track, you're a maverick.
======
* Graduate from Harvard law School, and you are unstable.

* Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well
grounded.
======
* If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the
first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter
registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as
a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator
representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the
state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the
United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while
sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and
Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real
leadership experience.

* If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city
council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people,
20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then
you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking
executive and next in line behind a man in his eighth decade.
======
* If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising
2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a real
Christian.

* If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, an d then left
your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you're a
true Christian.
======
* If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including
the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.

* If, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no
other option in sex education in your state's school system while your
unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you're very responsible.
======
* If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a
prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city
community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values
don't represent America 's.

* If you're husband is nicknamed "First Dude", with at least one DWI
conviction and no college education, who didn't register to vote until
age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of
Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely admirable.



OK, much clearer now"

New Month, New Attitude! Part 2

I told ya June was turning it around, didn't I? Yes, oh yes I did! School is now officially over (with Miss Lyss nabbing a few awards at the ceremony and moving along to 3rd grade) and Jim got himself a new job! Better hours, better pay- and consistent- with overtime! It works out really well for the summer schedule, not too awful for the rest of the year... and there's no more wondering when things will look up. The economy here is in a terrible place, and even the longest standing businesses, factories, etc., are minimizing, closing, filing bankruptcy..... I feel so awful for the people struggling for work. It's awful trying to keep your head above water and stay on top of everything when you don't know from one day to the next if you are still going to have a job. We need a change.

Speaking of changes.... I hear that today is the day Hillary will concede. I'm not going to say a lot, because politics and religion are two topics I know better than to preach (nobody's right, nobody's wrong) but again, I'll say June is kicking off with a wink and a smile.

Not to mention, I'm still in a tizzy over these guys right here. Yes, this will be a normal thing. Just nod and smile, guys, nod and smile.

June, my love.... keep it comin!!!!!

Super Tuesday!

Just thought I'd take a second and encourage all of you to vote today. I'm not going to go into a huge political rant- though I may at a later date- but be aware of all the issues and the various candidates (and parties!!) stance on things that are needed and beneficial to our country. We need a change. A positive one. We need better health care, funding for education and children's services, as well as numerous other things. And we need to get our troops out of where they don't belong, and get them home safely.

I would never take it upon myself to tell anyone how to vote, or how to feel. All I can, and will, do is express my own opinion. No one has to agree with me, just like I don't have to agree with anyone else. What we all do have a responsibility toward, however, is respecting those opinions and beliefs that differ from ours, and disagreeing gracefully. Unless it's within your own family, of course- then you can attempt to beat them into submission! :)

So, vote! Choose wisely, based on your knowledge and the knowledge of the candidates. Do not vote for gender, race, or because of smear tactics. Vote for the best candidate, to you, and we shall see what happens!

And in case ya wondered, it's Obama for me.