Kids talk politics and say the darndest things
It’s finally here! Hip, hip, hooray! For families who have been living, breathing, hyperventilating this election, this day could not come any quicker.
I’ve been amazed at how involved even the youngest little citizens have been in this election cycle. The other day, my three-year-old was snuggling in my arms and had the longest, saddest face I’ve seen in a long time.
I asked him what was wrong.
“I wish I could vote, Mom. Why can’t I vote?” he asked in his squeaky baby voice.
“Because you’re three, little guy.”
His 6-year-old sister shocked us earlier by saying she would move to Canada if her candidate did not win. We’ve never disparged any candidate in front of our children, so I was surprised to hear that comment from her. I told her that we weren’t moving, and both candidates had the best interests of the country at heart.
I’d love to hear what your children have had to say in this remarkable election cycle. Have you been surprised by what they’ve heard at school or at the playground? Share your best stories of kids talking politics.
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. 
Someone just emailed this anecdote to me:
In my daughter’s class (second grade), a lot of the kids were asking their two teachers who they were going to vote for. Because teachers’ views can be so powerful on young kids, they had discussions about it, and the kids came to the conclusion that a person’s vote should be private (kinda cool — learning ithere s very child-driven). What the class did, instead, was share what they know about McCain and Obama.
Another email sent to me with this anecdote from a mom who took her sons to the polls with her:
“Is Obama going to be here?” That was from Blake, my 7-year-old. I told him Obama voted about an hour ago in Chicago.