Jake had yesterday off from school because of Election Day. Now at first, I thought that was a little ridiculous. Yes, some of the schools are polling stations, but does the entire school system have to stay home, especially given that they also have Friday off for Veteran's Day??
I changed my mind. First of all, I love having Jake at home with me. Sure, he can drive me a little crazy after a full day at home, but one of the reasons we didn't do preschool up to this point is that I really enjoy spending time with him. Call me crazy, but I like the kid.
Secondly, this was a great chance for Jake to see "democracy in action." Now, I'm not a political person. I don't want to share my political beliefs with you (unless we agree wholeheartedly) and I don't want to hear yours, and please please don't make me debate politics. BUT I do have opinions and I do care who our leaders are. Even if it's just the local people whose names I can't remember once they're elected. It also helped that Jake came home from school Monday saying, "Tomorrow you need to go vote, Mommy, because you're over 18."
So, yesterday Jake and I went to our polling station and voted. I explained each category ("The mayor is the president of our city.") and told him why I voted for who I chose ("Well, this guy is running unopposed, so we might as well vote for him. I've read this woman's website and agree with her, plus we know some friends of hers. And then, honey, I vote for people based on how their name sounds. City Councilwoman Jones sounds respectable, doesn't it?"). Okay, I did a little guessing on two of my votes, but I was pleased to see that when I read about them after the fact, they're who I would've voted for had I known more...lucky guess, in other words.
Jake also got to vote in "Kids Voting." I think he was supposed to be in kindergarten, but I explained that he's in a preK/K combination class and tried to look very pregnant (not hard for me--people ALWAYS bend the rules for the preggers lady), so she let him vote. The kids got the same choices for candidates, plus a few extra questions. Most notably, Jake got to decide whether he would vote for the lottery were he in the NC Legislature. I explained the lottery as best I could, and despite his statement that he'd "rather put the money in his piggy bank to save for a lightsaber," he voted pro-lottery. Mike Easley should be proud--the next generation supports his lottery, too.
Jake got M&Ms for voting. When I asked the volunteers for my candy, they laughed and said adults didn't get any.
Well, THAT explains low voter turnout, don't you think?
I changed my mind. First of all, I love having Jake at home with me. Sure, he can drive me a little crazy after a full day at home, but one of the reasons we didn't do preschool up to this point is that I really enjoy spending time with him. Call me crazy, but I like the kid.
Secondly, this was a great chance for Jake to see "democracy in action." Now, I'm not a political person. I don't want to share my political beliefs with you (unless we agree wholeheartedly) and I don't want to hear yours, and please please don't make me debate politics. BUT I do have opinions and I do care who our leaders are. Even if it's just the local people whose names I can't remember once they're elected. It also helped that Jake came home from school Monday saying, "Tomorrow you need to go vote, Mommy, because you're over 18."
So, yesterday Jake and I went to our polling station and voted. I explained each category ("The mayor is the president of our city.") and told him why I voted for who I chose ("Well, this guy is running unopposed, so we might as well vote for him. I've read this woman's website and agree with her, plus we know some friends of hers. And then, honey, I vote for people based on how their name sounds. City Councilwoman Jones sounds respectable, doesn't it?"). Okay, I did a little guessing on two of my votes, but I was pleased to see that when I read about them after the fact, they're who I would've voted for had I known more...lucky guess, in other words.
Jake also got to vote in "Kids Voting." I think he was supposed to be in kindergarten, but I explained that he's in a preK/K combination class and tried to look very pregnant (not hard for me--people ALWAYS bend the rules for the preggers lady), so she let him vote. The kids got the same choices for candidates, plus a few extra questions. Most notably, Jake got to decide whether he would vote for the lottery were he in the NC Legislature. I explained the lottery as best I could, and despite his statement that he'd "rather put the money in his piggy bank to save for a lightsaber," he voted pro-lottery. Mike Easley should be proud--the next generation supports his lottery, too.
Jake got M&Ms for voting. When I asked the volunteers for my candy, they laughed and said adults didn't get any.
Well, THAT explains low voter turnout, don't you think?
1 Comments:
Yes, the absence of candy, that's why I didn't vote yesterday! I knew if I thought long enough, I'd think of what wonderful reason I had for not voting. Once again, your blog has saved me. Shame, shame on me. I SO should've voted, even without the candy!
Post a Comment
<< Home