Oh-Mama!

It's been a week since the election and I still cannot stop thinking about it. I have watched the acceptance speech dozens of times, each time feeling more hope than the previous. All I can think is the last time I felt this much hope in a President was just after 9-11 and our President vowed to do whatever it took to find the people responsible.

And then it hits me...we have a long way to go.

But, during all of my re-watching of the speech my 4-year-old walks in and asks what I am doing. I tell him. I point to the screen and say that is Barack Obama and he is the next President of the United States.

See, in the weeks and months before the election we never watched election coverage. The media does nothing but piss me off and besides Hannah Montana re-runs are far more entertaining. So, our 4-year-old was not even aware there was an election until I ran off and "boated" and came home to rub it in my husbands face who had adamantly exclaimed in the days before the election that he was refusing to vote because he didn't like his options (Yes, he succumbed to my pressure and made a decision).

So, naturally, the 4-year-old had questions. He wanted to know everything. What the President does, why it matters to him and whether or not the man had any kids for him to play with. I did my best to explain the nuances so that his brain would not spontaneously explode, I am happy to report it did not.

In fact, his response gives me more hope than any speech could ever muster.

While standing in the checkout line in the grocery store yesterday my son seemingly gets a little giddy. Mama, Mama, look, he yells trying to get my attention while pointing to the cover of US Weekly. I look over and he smiles with pride. What is it Kyan? I say playing like I have no idea he knows that is our next President. It's Arack Omama, Mama! He smiles proudly. He looks around and finds Barack's picture on 3 other magazines in line and he points to each letting everyone in line know that that man? That man is going to be our President.

And that? That brings me hope for our future because my son sees no color and that, my friends, is something to celebrate.