So I really do know how to spell our candidate's name but had to post about my children's learned enthusiasm for "Bak Obam". My four year old likes to chant "Go Barack Go! Go Barack Go!" and think good thoughts for him in regards to "winning the race against Hillary Clinton and then winning the race against ohn McCain". My two year old saw Barack Obama's face on my hubby's computer today and said "Bak Obam!" :)
I suppose the knowledge of Barack came to my children this winter during Super Tuesday while we were outside of a meditarainian resteraunt waiting for our food. There was this awesome work truck with what was kind of like a cattle trailer on the back and the driver had these huge Obama posters plastered to the sides. He was using a bullhorn telling everyone to go out and vote for Obama. My four year old, curious about the desire someone would have for shouting in to a bullhorn right in the middle of a busy strip mall said "mom, what is that guy doing??" He had also questioned just a bit earlier why there were people on the corner with big signs (Hillary supporters) shouting to people. At that point I had told him about a big race where two people were hoping to win and how much I wanted a man named "Barack Obama to win". He asked what the race was about and why I wanted him to win. Well, we strive not to be a highly competitive family and always try to remind our children that it's nice to support people on the other "team" when they win (although I AM finding it hard to practice myself with these never ending primaries!) ;) and told him that the person that won this race would help continue to make guidelines that people in our country will follow and that the person will help work to make sure that people can go to the doctor, have food to eat, etc. and that the people in the race have different ways that they think that they will do that. I told him that Obama seems like he really wants to help people like us and that he wants to help our country be a safe, happy place. He then promptly said "Well then I want Barack Obama to win this race too". It is just that easy for a 4 year old. :)
So from that point on my kids and husband have been following my desire to watch the primary results, endless CNN and other news sources (such as "Faux", I can thank one of the men on my friends list for that term) where I usually end up frustrated, wondering why in the world the networks have to be SO biased. I try to focus on the positive with our children though and try to help them see that it's important to support someone they believe in.
With all of that said, it was a very cute, warm fuzzy today when my younger son (2 years old in just a couple of weeks) saw Barack's picture today and said "Mom! Bak Obam!". My husband and eldest son said "Mom, did you hear T?" hee hee We all thought it was cute and he thought he was pretty cute himself.
So it all seems to start here. Teaching the importance of policital interest. Teaching children what really matters. It's not all of the bickering, which "candidate has outspent us 2-3 times over". It's about what matters to you, the individual, the family. It's about what you see for your future and for the future of your children. It's what you teach them is important, is worthy of your time and energy. It's what they see as mattering to you that affects them and leaves an impression.
It's my hope that Barack Obama isn't only awakening my generation of voters but that our generation is awakening our children and their future wishes to participate in shaping the country that they live in.
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