I am really into this election, as is my husband. We have Obama bumperstickers on our cars and a sign in our front yard. I've written letters to the editor of our small-minded area newspaper. We talk about the issues all the time.
Keith Olberman is on our tv each evening. Although I am beyond annoyed with Tim Russert, we watch "Meet the Press" each Sunday morning (it has been our ritual every since we started sharing Sunday mornings.) We juggle these shows with dinner, getting ready for bed, or getting ready for church.
Our 5 year old son is showing an interest. He was so excited when his neighbor friend said that his parents also voted for Obama. We have explained to him in simple terms why we are voting for the Democratic candidate and why we favor Barack Obama.
He really got into "John Adams" on HBO, and has been buggin us to take the short trip to Springfield, IL to visit Lincoln's library. For a little chuckle at the end of a long week and in honor of my smart little guy, I submit the following:
Top 10 Hints Your 5 Year Old is Paying Attention to the Election
- He knows who Barack Obama is.
- He knows Obama is currently competing against "that girl,Hillary Clinton"
- He knows the Republican nominee is "the old guy with white hair"
- He says to you, "Hey mom, do you know that Obama is not winning all the big states, but most of the 'swinging' states."
- He asks, "well when does Obama get to run against Bush?" You respond, "Bush doesn't get to run again." To which your child responds, "Oh, because he won 2 times already?"
- When he is asked (by his McCain/Bush loving grandmother) why his parents are voting for Obama, he says, "to fix all the mistakes that President Bush has made."
- He tells you that Obama needs a Wii so he can practice his bowling.
- Out of the blue, he shouts, "hey Mom, I'm fired up and ready to go!"
- Your child tells you that, "George Washington is my favorite president; John Adams is my second favorite; and Barack Obama is my third favorite...or maybe Abraham Lincoln."
- When you ask your child if he might want to be president some day, he replies, "No. I want to be an artist, although I sure do like wearing a tie."