When I got back from the polls, Sage asked what my “I Voted” sticker was for. (I think she wondered why it didn’t have Dora or Strawberry Shortcake on it like all the stickers do that she gets from our doctor’s office.)
I decided a little political education was in order. I told her “This tag says ‘I voted’ and that means I told them who I wanted to be President of the United States--to be in charge.” Please don’t ask who “them” refers to, I thought.
She accepted my explanation. Perhaps she was wondering if someday she could vote for Dora or Strawberry Shortcake.
A few minutes later, I wondered if our little political discussion stayed with her, and I asked her what my sticker said.
“It says you voted,” she replied happily.
“And what does that mean?” I asked encouragingly.
With certainty, she replied, “It means you’re going to be the person you want to be.”
Uh…well,…okay. Maybe that’s good enough for a three-year-old.
But then Sage’s response got me thinking. Maybe I do vote so that I can be the person I want to be, because I am choosing the leaders that I want to lead our nation. It’s pretty amazing that I can have a voice in our national government. And it’s pretty petty that I considered not going to the polls tonight because it would be annoying to entertain the kids in line for 30 minutes.
When I think about the remarkable privilege it is to vote, I can’t help but remember the book Wild Swans: Three daughters of China. (Please put this on your reading list, if you have one and haven’t read this book by Jung Chang.) I cannot show enough gratitude to be a member of the United States of America, with its representative government. Casting my vote is the least I can do. And I could do better at passing the voting legacy along to my kids. So, instead of throwing out my sticker, maybe tomorrow I’ll let Sage “vote" for a president from the candidates pictures on cnn.com, and encourage her to proudly bear the words “I voted.” By letting our voice be heard, that’s how we ensure that we really can be the people we want to be.
4 comments:
A new political activist in the family! Nice groundwork Janel! --Mom
Way to go! I took my kids to the polls with me, but didn't really explain what we were doing there. . . just told them I was voting and that was that! Teaching experience missed for now, darn it! Someday I'll be a good mom like you, Janel. :)
It's a good thing you didn't SEE the lines before you went to vote or you really might have had second thoughts about going. I know I would have!
Hooray! Good for you. And I did just add that book to my reading list :)
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