...I co-oped today at my sons preschool, come read what the four year olds are talking about...
Yesterday was my first day co-oping at my sons preschool, something I hadn't done for "two-day-twos" or three-day-threes". Since I'm currently unemployed, waiting for paperwork to be processed, I was afforded the wonderful opportunity to participate in our very local education community.
My role was easier than I had been lead to believe, mainly I kept kids on task as they glued together as Spooky themed construction paper collage and to dole out moons and brooms. However, only four at a time can work on the art project, so the others get to free play until a spot opens up at the table. The room is quite noisy with lots of make-believe going on. Imaine my amusement when I heard the following conversation between my son and one of his pals...
PAL: "Do you know Barack Obama and John McCain"?
SON: "Barack Obama"!
PAL: "Barack Obama"!
SON: "Barack Obama"!
PAL: "Barack Obama"! (Uses wireless hair dryer as megaphone)
SON: "Do you go to the Barack Obama store"? (We canvass in NoVa)
PAL: "Barack Obama and John McCain are on TV"
SON: "We give Barack Obama stories"
PAL: "Do you know Barack Obama and John McCain"?
SON: "My Baba helps Barack Obama"?
PAL: "Do you know Barack Obama and John McCain"? (He's walked over to me)
ME: "I see them on TV"
PAL: "Do you know Barack Obama and John McCain"? (Still speaking into hair dryer)
ME: "I am on Barack Obama's team"
PAL: "Do you know Barack Obama and John McCain"? (My son has come over)
ME: "No" (at which point the pal runs away yelling..."Barack Obama")
SON: "Who is John McCain"?
ME: "You call him the angry man".
SON: "Oh...Barack Obama!" (then he runs away to play with cars)
You thought this anecdote was going to be meaningful didn't you? You were hoping for something more than cute? Perhaps, something more than..."Boy, kids really like to say Barack Obama"? Sorry, it didn't happen.
But do not dispair, my is as aware as a four year old should be. At heart, he is an issue would-be voter. He's mainly interested in kid issues. All kids should have enough food. All kids should see a doctor when they are sick. There should be enough jobs for mommies and babas. It's not nice to say mean things about people. If you are angry, you need to have some quiet time in your room, alone. It's important to share and to help. Voting is important. There's more. As an unabashed parent, I could go on ad nauseum, but I'll spare you the details and relate one other anecdote...
We live in Montogmery County, Maryland, that's Chris van Hollen territory, about as liberal as any place you'll find, but we have our McCain supporters. One decloaked herself at an afterschool playground playdate. While the kids ran amok, she started out with "Talking politics at school or with friends is bad manners", then proceeded to deliver the most ill-informed set of talking points imaginable. I didn't say a word. I just listened. I know my spouse doesn't want me to estrange our son from his friends mom. Eventually, I quipped, "Tax me, Please" to her absurd ramblings on taxation, "I'd take a tax and spend liberal over a borrow and spend conservative any day". The perplexed look on her face suggested she failed to see the humor or logic in my statement. So I went and helped our kids on the tire swing while the gentler Obama supporters let her vent aimlessly. It must be tough being a demoralized underdog with no hope of swaying the electoral results in your own state. Anyways, the next day I was dropping off my son at school, when his friend asked me, "Are you insane"? To which I replied, "I don't think so, but most people who are insane don't really know they are"? He smiled at that idea. Clearly, not every parent is as careful about what they say around their children.
Any other preschool anecdotes out there?