Election Day 2012

Last night, November 6th, 2012, I took the girls to the Elementary school to cast my vote.  Marc and I were going to go together and both keep an eye on the girls while we made our personal decisions. He had to work late so he wasn't able to even get there in time to vote. So I called Ann, asked if I could drop the girls off while I ran into town to vote, and so it was. I hung up the phone and Riley said to me "No I want to go with you to vote", she looked so sad that she wouldn't be able to participate in what I had been talking about with her all day.  With out hesitation, I smiled and the three of us went to vote. 

Reese slept the whole time, that was helpful, and Riley had been so eager the entire care ride, asking me questions about what it means to vote and who I was voting for. Of course she had no idea what I was talking about but I tried my best to explain it in a way she could relate. 
"We live in America, and every four years we vote for who we want our President to be" I said. "Who are you voting for?" she said, I told her my choice. "Who is Daddy voting for?" I told her his choice. Then I said "The President is like the "mommy or daddy" of the country we live in, America. Everyone in America votes for who they want our "mommy or daddy" to be and then the person who wins all the votes becomes our President! and they make all the decisions for our country, America."  I think it made a spark in her little, but big, curious mind. 

Her eyes lit up so big when we walked into the gym at the Elementary school. She was looking around and taking in every detail, she asked me "Is everyone here voting too?" I smiled and said "Yep!" With one hand on the stroller, she stood patiently by my side the whole time . After casting my vote for my future and hers, the card popped out from the machine, she asked if she could hold it. I told her to give it to the man waiting to give out stickers. She looked so proud and handed him the card, like she had voted too and she made a difference. She seemed so proud. He smiled at her and gave her an "I voted" sticker. She looked up at me and with a huge grin put it on her t-shirt, right in the middle. 

Before bed we always read a book of her choice. She chose a Zootles magazine; uncle Erik sent her a subscription. On the last page there is a map of the world. We have talked about the world a number of times, she is familiar with America and Russia;  Marc traveled there for work this summer and we looked at the world map several times while he was gone. I explained more on the USA and how The President is in charge of this whole country. She listened with a serious and meaningful look on her face. 

All in all, it was a very memorable voting year for me and I hope she will remember it too. As a preschool teacher, it brings outstanding joy to my heart to watch my own child learn from me. I am SO proud of her and her hunger for learning! Oh!, she is also learning how to read! She is ready and willing to learn about letters, words, and how reading works. She tries to read everything and identifies the letters in words. I love to brag about my precious, unique, gems; my children :-) as every parent should. 
Reese also let me know I was doing a good job as a parent, she patted me on the back this morning when I picked her up after she ate breakfast ;-)