Election 2008

Election 2008 was meaningful for all of us this year. It was the first year the girls will remember going to the polls with us and somewhat understand what transpired over the last few years during campaign time until now. I carefully explained the process and we looked at newspapers and books to learn more about presidents and the United States, democracy, etc. On the day of the election, we were reading about Abraham Lincoln and his role in freeing the slaves... followed shortly by his assasination. Mistake #1 (shooting someone in the head isn't for 4 year old reading.. is it?). I went on to explain (mostly to Sarah, but Hannah is absorbing MUCH more than I thought) why he was assasinated and his sympathies with the southern states regarding the slave trade. We talked about his presidency and incorporated the Civil War.

Finally, Trey woke up from his nap and I announce "we're going to vote for the next president. Get your coats and shoes on." Sarah runs off. Hannah starts to cry. "But I don't want to get shot", she wails.

Oh well, at least she remembers presidents sometimes get shot. That is a lesson, isn't it?

Similar lesson, we are discussing Fort Sumter (while looking at a book with pictures of the battle) and I tell the girls that we are going to visit Fort Sumter in December. What fun!! Again, Hannah melts down. You got it... "I don't want to die"- she moans and falls on the floor in tears.

Maybe I should save the war stories for when she is in preschool making squirrel food out of cereal and peanut butter.