This is where we live! We live here!

I took my daughters into the polls with me. I have done this ever since they were little. I piled up the three girls and we discussed why it is important to vote. M was all set to vote until K informed her she wasn't old enough. So, M started to name all the people who were old enough.

I am a democrat. C is a republican. We cross issues a lot. Our voting status is really based on what issues are more important. While we believe in the same issues, I hold more weight on education and environment than I believe he does. He holds more weight on government policy and spending. We both strongly respect each other's opinion and if we have difficulty voting for someone in our party we discuss it. I love this about our relationship.

I tease the girls that they need to be more democrat, but in reality they are given 50/50 split on opinions. I think C and I have influenced each other a ton in positive ways. I have been in many debates because I strongly believe in a separation of church and state. If we are going to bring a religion lesson into the classroom, then the classroom better have all the world religions in it. It can't be done. There's too much of a split in just what people believe Christianity is. It's not that I am afraid my children will be swayed one way, it's that I don't think "saving a child's soul" should be the lessons taught in a school. In our area, it's called "Bible release". Children are allowed to go during the day to a local church and be given religion lessons. The teachers in our district are told to not teach during that hour--even if there are children in the class not given permission for bible release--because it's not fair to the "release" kids. It's pure bullying. They are cutting out swimming, orchestra, and other programs because they worry about test scores. I have a suggestion: cut bible release as a school time activity and move it to an after-school program.

As I voted, I explained what each position was, why I voted the way I did, and then they received their stickers. G took her stickers and announced, pointing to an American flag, "This is where we live! We live here!"

It's one of those wonderful homeschooling moments when you think--really, did I just give these girls a lesson? It's also just a wonderful parent moment.