The joy of talking to kids about this election
Regardless of your politics, how amazing has it been to talk to your kids about this political season?
My five-year-old declared her support for Barack Obama earlier this summer and informed us that Hillary Clinton had been “voted off.” She went with me to vote in the primary. She has stayed up every night this past week to watch the big speeches at Democratic national convention and has been asking about who John McCain is picking for VP.
I called her over a few minutes ago, and showed her Sarah Palin’s picture.
I started to tell her, this is who McCain picked, but I got choked up. My daughter will either see the first African American elected as president or a woman elected as vice president. I had tears in my eyes when I told her he picked the governor of Alaska.
My five-year-old studied her picture for a second and responded: “She’s pretty, but I don’t like her team.”
Putting aside all the political rhetoric, this week has been incredible for our country. It will forever change how our children will view politics. It will forever change the notion of who can grow up to be president.
Aisha covered education and breaking news for nearly ten years before joining the Lifestyle staff where she writes a "Dirty Laundry" parenting column. She is the home and family editor and wastes too much time on Facebook and political blogs. 
What do you think of a parent, mom or dad, seeking the (almost) highest office in the land four months after having a baby?
At the moment I’m just enjoying the fact that my son can’t really talk yet so no need to explain much of anything to him…four years down the road, well, that’s another story
So you got “choked up” that John McCain chose a woman candidate solely to steal Hillary Clinton supporters who don’t agree AT ALL with the conservative platform? Gullible much? Palin as VP is insulting to women and sets women back. She doesn’t even support abortion rights for rape victims!
“And a little child shall lead them” Oh that we adults would shed our prejudices and follow the lead of the children! Your daughter has clearly seen through the ploy! She (Palin) IS pretty, but the team is no good!
Lilly, I’m glad you raised this question. I want to write a column about it, but I’m a little conflicted about how I feel about it. I remember four months post-partum. I can’t imagine how Palin has the wherewithal and energy to run for national office, especially considering that her baby has special needs. I’m just flabbergasted by it. I just remember nursing 24/7, being awake most of the night and feeling slightly deranged. I don’t know how she’s so pulled together.
Not sure how this sets women back, oh yeah she is a conservative. Funny how one sided this argument is. As far as the abortion thing, I guess the Dems have the answer on this too, abort any time you like. Personally I think in the case of rape it should be allowed. Keep in mind this is a rare occurrence. Why is it that the democrats only believe in choice when it comes to abortion. School choice? Drilling?
Aisha, I doubt that you would be conflicted on this issue had you candidate picked a women with five children. What about Michelle how is she going to handle raising her children?
Interesting story:
http://www.zimbio.com/pilot?ID=rjB5xwQ9bkQ&ZURL=/Bristol+Palin/news&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fdigg.com%2F2008_us_elections%2FSarah_Bristol_Palin_and_the_Baby_Cover_Up
Bill, Michelle isn’t running for office. But, I think I would have wondered about the issue either way…It’s so unprecedented. It is really quite a feat to pull yourself together so soon after having a baby.
Pam…bizarre rumor.
Palin says 17-year-old daughter is pregnant
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080901/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_palin_daughter
Ok, so watch me get lambasted here, but… Women’s lib is what has taken our society down the toilet! By “empowering” our girls to do anything and everything that men/boys can do, we have turned our little girls into young women that have a flippant view of sex, think men are things to be toyed with and thrown away, that having children is simply something we do, then pawn them off on someone else to raise. We have turned our women into men and our men into spineless jelly fish! I am a woman, a single mother, and I work. Women should be able to have careers, but not at the expense of the family. If you can’t spend adequate time raising your children because you have so much work to do, then your priorities are off and perhaps you shouldn’t have had children to begin with. It’s about knowing what is most important in life. Men are supposed to be the head of the household. That doesn’t mean that the woman has no say in anything, it’s a partnership. My fiance and I both do house work, cook, bathe and read to the kids. When we disagree, we agree to disagree. When I am wrong I admit it, when he is wrong he will admit it. We have made a commitment to each other and our family and family comes first. I will gladly defer to him, because he always listens to what I have to say and takes that into consideration. Turn back to the Bible people. God laid it out for all of us. And it was when we decided that we all knew better than Him that things truly got messy in our own homes. Alright….women’s libbers, fire away! I can guarantee that I am happier with my life as a woman of God than you are in yours as women of the world.