Politics and Kids

Very interesting to see how politics and media affect children.  Case in point:  My 4.5 year daughter.

I can't vote (my wife can) and politics is not discussed very much in our house.  We didn't watch the debates, we don't watch a lot of news.  Yes,  I have opinions on the whole election ,and the billions of dollars spent, butthis is not about that.

Last Wednesday (Nov. 5) I was driving my daughter to school and I was listening to a radio station from Atlanta.  Of course they were talking about the election results.  My daughter heard the word "Obama" and out of hte blue said, "I hate Obama".  I couldn't believe it.  I told her that wasn't nice and that he was our next president.  I racked my brain to see if I or my wife eversaid something like that.  I couldn't think of a time where I said that.  She then said that they talked about Obama in school.

She is 4.5 years old. 

The next day, I talked with the day care director since I believe my daughter heard this from the aftercare teachers.  The day before, one of them was wearing a pink t-shirt that said Palin Power.  I sort of wondered if that was an appropriate shirt for a day-care worker, but if they have no rules against it, then it is ok.  I find out from the day care director that on Tuesday the 3 - 4 year olds had a mock election.  WHAT !!!!!  At that age??????  She said she was worried about it, and she said it was interesting to hear the childrentalk about the candidates.  I am sure they were jusy spitting back what they heard mommy and daddy say.

Quick digression:  I heard one lady on the radio the day after election say she voted for Obama because McCain was a criminal.  The radio hosts were stunned.  The lady said, "Well, he was in jail so he was a criminal"  Hmm.. I guess being a POW makes you a criminal.  WOW.. it is that kind of mis-information that gets me mad.

Anyways.... Wife gets home from being gone for a week. We are sitting on the couch talking and my daughter is sitting, on my wife's knees.  The tv is on in the background and nobody is paying attention to it when somone on tv says something about "Obama".  My daughter throws her hands up in the air in exasperation and says, " Obama, Obama, Obama!  All I hear is Obama.  Obama on the tv, Obama in daddy's truck, Obama at school.  I am sick of Obama!"  As she throw her hands up, she throws her body back and gives out a huge sigh.  It was quite comical.  My wife and I laughed.

Tonight, I am watching the news and of course the word "Obama" is said and again she says, "I hate Obama".  Again I scolded her about using the word hate and told her she better get used to the word, because he was president for at least 4 years.

Again, she is 4.5 years old.

I find it very interesting that a 4.5 year old is sick of Obama and we haven't watched much tv.    If she is sick of him now, I wonder what she will say in four years.