A (mostly) Non Political Post About the Election

I took Finn with me to vote yesterday.  As we stood in line he told me about his day, told me he thought I should be president, asked who I voted for the last election and was generally silly.

When we got to the voting booth, I pointed out to him all the people we were voting for.  "Here we're voting for president."   "Here we're voting for Bella's daddy" (our neighbor who was running for Congress).  And then when I finished my selections, I turned to him and said, "If HRC wins the election today, she will be the first woman president, ever."

His eyes got really big.  "Ever?"

"Ever.  Before now, every president of this country has been a man."

"Oh, I hope she wins!"

Later, as he leaned out the window to talk to me while I filled the gas tank, he said, "So tell me more about the presidents.  Have they really only been boys?"

"Yes," I said.  "And before this president, President Obama, they had all been white men.  He's the first black man to be president."

He looked down at his skin.  "So every other president has been a boy, with skin the color of mine? And not brown like Aunt Uche or Aunt Lisa or Madison?"  He looked at me in disbelief.  "That's just weird."

***

This morning, I was so sad to break the news to him that our next president was not going to be a woman, that she did not win.  "The mean guy won? How did that happen???" he asked.  And then he said, "Mommy, when I get older, I promise I will only vote for nice people.  No, I promise I will only vote for whoever you think I should vote for!"

I thought about this for a few minutes, and remembered all the contentious political arguments I've had with my parents over the years.  "You know what?  You may change your mind as you get older. You might decide that you see the world differently than I do, that you don't agree with me on who to vote for.  So I'm going to make you a different promise.  I promise that no matter how much our opinions matter, I will always listen to you with respect.  I will allow you to share your thoughts and feelings with me, and ask only thoughtful questions in response.  I promise I will never make you feel bad because you and I don't agree on who to vote for."

Finn stuck out his hand, "That sounds like a great idea, Mom.  I promise, too."

And then I made him another promise - the promise that as a family we are going to do all we can to make the world a better place.  To show love and compassion to those who are different from us, for those who need help, for those who are suffering.  And we're also going to work to make sure that everyone who gets elected two years from now and 4 years from now feel the same way.