Hope

My kids got to watch President Obama's speech at school today. Well, Owen did. Aidan gets pulled out of class for 1st grade reading a couple days a week and I guess the 1st graders weren't watching, so he missed most of it. He was whining about it when I picked them up from school. 

I assured him that I had the whole thing on Tivo, which he demanded to watch immediately after lunch. And we did. And he actually watched it. (Owen fell asleep, which I think is a more standard 5-year-old response.)

I don't recall ever being remotely interested in an inauguration at that age. Actually, I don't remember ever being particularly interested in any inauguration until today. I certainly never whined about missing one. 

But my kids actually get excited when they see our President. What a concept! A leader that inspires excitement. 

Kids will grow up interested in the democratic process again. They will grow up believing they could actually be President someday. That's a pretty significant change already and it's only day one. I am hopeful. 

Yes We Did!

Wow. I had begun to think that inspirational leaders were something that only existed in the past (and on "The West Wing"). As much as I wanted it, I didn't believe the corporatized political machine would let it happen...

All I can say is that for the first time since my kids were born, we will have a president we can be proud of. I already feel better about the world that I've brought them into and hopeful that they will grow up knowing that the people can change the system...that anything truly is possible.