Why I’m Not Taking My Kids to the Polls

I asked my 12 year old daughter, “Do you want to come with me when I vote?”

She asked, “What would I do?”

“Watch me vote!” I said.

“Voting is a private thing,” she replied. “Plus, I voted yesterday at school.” And in typical 12 year old girl fashion, she explained at length the voting process her middle school used.

I then went to ask my 9 year old daughter. “Do you want to go with me when I vote?”

“Will it be scary?” she asked with a mock scared face. She was just kidding. She then peppered me with questions. “Where are you voting?” (her school) “Why?” (because it’s my  polling place) “Is Lily going?” (No) “Then I don’t want to go because I already know what it looks like and it’s boring.”

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Why does she know what voting looks like? Because I vote at every election, and have had to take them with me often. Ed works 10 hour days, and that doesn’t include travel. I have dragged two little girls with me to the polls and cajoled them with lollipops while the election judges handed them stickers. When they were a little older, they brought along a book to read. Once, an election judge told me I filled out the entire sheet for reelecting judges incorrectly, and it wouldn’t count. I had the option to redo it, but I declined. I had two little girls impatiently waiting for me.

On lesser election days, I breathed a sigh of relief when the girls were older and they were in school. I was able to go vote all by myself!

On presidential election days, like today, school is cancelled for safety reasons. If my girls wanted to go vote with me, I would gladly take them. They have heard Ed and me talk about the issues, agree and disagree with each other, and they know how important having a voice really is. But I’m also not going to force them to go to our polling place with me. They would probably still respond well to a lollipop, and they would be much better behaved than they were when they were 1 and 4 years old. However, they are old enough to stay home for a few minutes while I walk down the street to vote. And I did give them the choice. Isn’t that what elections are all about? Having a choice?

[Tweet “Voting mother: you are brave, you are strong, you are making a difference.”]

So yes, I’m missing out on that selfie with my daughters at my voting place. I applaud all of you who do take your children to vote, whether by choice or necessity. I applaud those of you with young children who stand at the voting booth with one hand on a stroller and another sticky little hand reaching up to pull at your shirt. You are brave. You are strong. And you are making a difference.

 

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The Next President

Lily and I were playing with play dough in the kitchen today, when I answered the phone. It was an automated survey for the election, so I put it on speaker phone. After I was done, Lily asked me about the election. I told her that next Tuesday I am going to vote for the next President. She informed me that she is going to vote, as well. I told her she was too little, but she insisted she will vote on Tuesday.

“So, who are you going to vote for?”

She replied, very definitely, “I’m voting for God.”

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