Bringing the Importance of the Presidential Election Home

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

04 Nov 2008 05:29 AM

Just before bed one day last week, my seven-year-old son was asking me about the presidential election. Bouncing my two-year-old on my hip and supervising the "almost-four-year-old" while she brushed her teeth, I started launching into the two-party system, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, the names of the current candidates, taking him with me when I went to vote, weighing the issues, etc. My son looked at me quizzically, and then gave a slight nod. "But the important thing is that history is going to be made."

That is when I had to bow to the wisdom of a seven-year-old.

He was absolutely right.

In my household, we have ben so caught up with the back and forth of the candidates, the debates with neighbors and friends, the feeling of being "holier than thou" or "smarter than thou" because we were supporting the "right" candidate, the combination of disgust and fascination with the advertising campaigns, the concern about the economy, the war, education and oil, etc., etc.

But let's step back a moment to realize something very important about this particular presidential race. Whomever gets elected today will be a part of history. Oh, not in the sense of being elected to the white house alone, but something greater. For the first time in our more than 200-year history, a minority will actually be in the white house, whether it is the first African American president or the first female vice president.

"I can't believe that all of this time there was never either one," my son says. It is hard to believe, isn't it? So whichever way you vote, and whichever way the election turns, whether your candidates get to celebrate or lick their wounds, realize that no matter what, there is progress and the importance of history being made.

What do you think?

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog and caring for little ones in the Baby Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.

Related Articles:

The Olympics Is Changing My Household

Why Don't Our Mice Do That?

Is It Too Early?

Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger