This moment in History – a letter to my children

January 20, 2009 by 1 Comment

Dear My Favorite Small People,

Today history unfolded in front of our very eyes.  Well, at least in front of mine and the millions of adults, teenagers and children who were lucky enough to grasp the magnitude of January 20, 2009.

I have tried to share the moments with you today as they happened, but you were perplexed by my ‘tears of joy’.  When you are 4 and 2 years old, you only cry when you are sad, but trust me, my sweet babies, you will shed tears in the years to come when happiness fills your soul and you simply overflow.

I have loved hearing you recognize the men running for this highest office.  Your squeals of recognition when now President Barack Obama’s face was present on our TV screen will forever be a part of my psyche.  And, Coop, he will always be part ‘E-rock O-Bana’ to me.

As we listened to Barack Obama pledge a unique allegiance to our country, I was struck by something very special:  there will be many moments in your life that root you to the ground, compelling you to remember ‘exactly where you were’ when those events happened, but, as history has shown us, most of those moments will be powerful in a tragic nature. In your history classes you will learn about 9-11, about Challenger and Columbia, about Hurricane Katrina and many others.

But today was different. Today was the opposite of tragedy – it was pure triumph. It was a beautiful tribute to the United States of America, what this country stands for and how powerful the collective voice of the people can be.

President Barack Obama is the first African American President.  He has proven that there is absolutely no dream too big.  While you and I will never truly understand the magnitude of this for the African American men, women and children in this amazing country, we will be proud that we live in a nation that is destroying the lines of race between citizens. 

President Obama will be the President you initially hear most about in school as he will be in Office as you begin to learn.  He has a very tough road ahead of him, and I truly hope he will be someone you respect.

I know it will be years before Obama’s gift as an orator will effect you as it has me, but I hope you can take comfort in my words as I tell you, he is something special.  He, whether you agree with all of his political philosophies or not, has moved Americans (and many from other countries as well) in a way that few have.  He is giving hope in a time that we need it.  He is dreaming and setting lofty goals in a time that has been drowning in a collective frustration with a down economy, millions of lost jobs, and a continuing war.

His gift for inspiring and offering hope, I believe, are just the beginning. 

I hope, as you get older, you will know that my priority is and always has been the two of you – your health, your education, your safety, your dreams.  I respect President Barack Obama because I believe his priorities and mine are the same: You and the other children who make up the future of the United States. 

I love you and am grateful you tried to share my joy and awe today.  And, I know that President Barack Obama would think your little kid enthusiasm for his moment in history was something special.

Love Always,

Mommy

Filed Under: Extraordinary, In the News, Small people Tagged With: , , , ,

Ambivalence – BE GONE!

November 5, 2008 by 3 Comments

I don’t care who you voted for….the end result is historic. 

You voted.  You went to the polls in record breaking numbers.  You stood in long lines; some braved rain and cold.  Some of you were voting for the very first time. You voted for McCain and Palin.  You voted for Obama and Biden. 

Maybe you made your choice based on the state of the economy…maybe it was the war in Iraq…maybe you wanted ‘a change’, maybe you were longing for a ‘maverick’.

You know the end result as well as I do….Barak Obama is the President-Elect.  Maybe this thrills you to your core, maybe it left you shaking your head.  Either way, you likely aren’t ambivalent..and that is FANTASTIC.  This election made people care.  It inspired people to exercise one of the rights that makes the United States a special place.  How phenomenal is that?

Hundreds of thousands of you were in Grant Park last night to watch history as it opened like a flower facing the sun. The crowd was this eclectic mix of people…young and old, all races.

I have never, ever, in my lifetime witnessed a political event inspire so many people….or a political figure inspire a crowd like Obama does.  Even if you don’t agree with his politics, I think there is something magical about him. 

I am proud to live in a country that allows its people to vote for the person they want running the country and representing them to other nations.  I heard two things today that made me pause and take a deep breath: there was an African American man being interviewed with his young son; when asked his take on Obama’s win, he said, now, he can look his son in the face and mean it when he tells him he can do or be anything.  As a parent, I have never had a doubt when telling my kids the same thing. I love that this election has given parents extra confidence.

The second moment for me was hearing a professor say that Obama’s election does not signal a change in race relations, rather, a change in the climate of race relations allowed Obama to win the Presidency.  In a way, that means, we had come a long way – even before last night.  And I think that is tremendous.

I can’t wait until my kids are old enough that I can share this experience with them.

Filed Under: Can we talk? Tagged With: , ,

Moms have the power

November 4, 2008 by 3 Comments

What an awesome responsibility.  Today, Americans will, quite literally, make history. I woke up this morning with a feeling akin to Christmas jitters.  You know that moment when you wake up and you just can’t wait to see what the day brings?  That’s me.

I suppose I don’t fit the media’s stereotype of the stay-at-home/work-at-home mom.  Since they have us pegged as the sect of society ‘who doesn’t pay a whole lot of attention to politics’.  That is a quote, by the way.  Two weeks ago I was watching the morning news; they were covering a story about The View’s Elizabeth Hasselbeck and how she was going to be campaigning for Sarah Palin.  The ‘analsyt’s’ take on the whole thing: that by incorporating an anchor from a mid-day show like ‘The View’ (apparently where at-home moms get their worldly information) they are reaching out to a segment of women who don’t really know what is going on.

Pardon me while I vomit.  I had an Exorcist moment…I think my head may actually have spun around. Sure, I’m insulted.

Not only do I notwatch ‘The View’, I don’t have time to sit and watch day-time TV.  Yet, I do manage to stay abreast of the goings on in the world. I do read newspapers.  I do watch news stations.  This is a choice I make…and I know I am not alone.  When I called a girlfriend (And fellow at-home mom), her response: that we, as moms, actually pay more attention now than we ever did.  The future of our children is at stake.  It is important to know what direction we are heading.  It is crucial to understand how our economy is working, how our health care system will provide or not provide for us in a crisis and how my children’s generation will be educated.

When you are heading to the polls today (you are going, right?)  Remember that you have this amazing power.  You get to voice your opinion…you get to stand up and say what you think is right for you and your family.

I am in awe of today.  I am in awe of the history I will get to share with my children.  It gives me chills.

Filed Under: Can we talk?, I can't get enough Tagged With: , , ,