Ben and Politics

Benjamin has known who Barack Obama is since the primary race when I had him stand in front of house with a "Thank You President Bush" sign and chant Obama, Obama, Obama. Irresponsible? I don't think so.

Anyway, I have thought a lot about how I want Ben to be active in his community, active in the country and active in things that matter most to him. My hope is that I will provide opportunities for him to learn about different topics, people, places, etc. that will help create a broad view of the world and help him make responsible and thoughtful decisions.

I know he's only 3.5 but I can already see that he understands more than I ever thought a 3.5 year old could. However, he is only 3.5 and I get a little carried away.

During the inauguration, Ben and I were home sick so we were able to watch a moment in history together. He kept coming in the room and would then leave to continue playing. Finally, when President Obama was speaking Ben looks at me really seriously and says "Mommy, can Obama be a girl?" I told him that Obama was a boy so he then asked if we could pretend he was a girl. I told him that we could pretend anything we wanted but I was curious to why he wanted our president to be a girl. He's response "I want a girl president." Needless to say I was so proud of him in that moment. I was sure I was doing something right, that my 3.5 year old son knew that anyone could be president...anyone. I also like to think that he thought Mommy might be a better president than Daddy.

Since the journey started for this presidential election I have felt such hope and gratitude. It is amazing to me that Ben will never know a time in his life where it wasn't possible for anyone to be president. I was reminded of this moment in February at his Valentine Party at school. While the kids were waiting for the festivities to begin, the teacher was asking them a series of questions:

1. In which city do you live? C-I-N-C-I-N-N-A-T-I (which was sung to the Mickey Mouse song.)
2. What is your state? OHIO screamed by 23 little kids.
3. What is our country? The United States of America...this is where I started getting a bit choked up.
4. Who is the president of the United States of America...Barack Obama (except for Ben who just calls him Obama due to the chanting he did during the primary election)

Again, such emotion ran through me I couldn't' stand it...how amazing that all of these kids, not just my son, have the fortune of living in this time...yes, I know the economy stinks but still aside from that, I think it's pretty amazing. So, imagine my joy when Ben brings home the above picture of President Obama. I see this picture and the first thing I think of is "Wow, Ben has made his jacket all different colors as a commentary on the hope and promise of change in our future. Ben understands that the world is made up of people of all different shapes, sizes, colors, beliefs....and he values that. My 3.5 year old is so deep.

So I ask him "Ben, why did you choose to make Obama's jacket so many different colors?" His response...."Because jackets have a lot of colors."

Okay, so he's 3.5...and then I got a grip.

Giving Thanks

It has been a very long time since I have posted. You haven't missed much. I've been a little cranky, tired and annoyed at just about everything so really you've been better off without me. Not anymore, I'm turning over a new leaf...okay, let's not be ridiculous, I'm sure I'm still going to be all of those things but not all of the time.

As corny as it may sound, Thanksgiving me reminded me of all the things I am thankful for.
1. My husband - when we're not busy being annoyed with one another we actually make a good pair. He enjoys (or at least puts on a good front) being with 22 members of my family in my house...you've got to hold on to someone like that
2. My son- While 3.5 has been very trying and has made the terrible twos a very malicious lie, Ben is totally amazing. He's so curious, funny, creative and kind hearted. He brings tears of joy to my eyes which totally erases the tears that I cause due to my lack of patience.
3. My extended family- I'm not sure what happened but I was surrounded by 22 members of my family over Thanksgiving and I did not fight with anyone, specifically not my husband, mother or brother. I truly enjoyed all of us being together.
4. My friends- I have really good friends. There are a lot of people who I care about and who care about me.
5. My career- While it can totally suck and can be really difficult, I am making a difference and that is what I have always wanted to do and that is what really matters.
6. Lack of salmonella- Not one person had to go to hospital for food poisoning after eating my turkey....seriously it was by biggest fear.

Clearly this is not an exhaustive list but it's a start and covers the most important things in my life and is the list that will help me put the rest of my life in perspective.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pantsuits

I laughed, I cried and I would have bought a t-shirt if it was for sale...which it probably is. Way to go Hillary! I am very hopeful about Election Day.

I keep thinking of my grandma ("Mom")who was a die hard democrat. My brother was her favorite...the only son of the only son and to her he never had a flaw. Then, on her 80th birthday she received Kerry/Edwards signs for her front yard. I knew she was a democrat but I didn't realize how much of a democrat she actualy was until that day. I felt it was my obligation as he grandaughter to let her know her favorite grandson was a republican. Her response. "Well, Erin, I guess he's not perfect."

I think Momwould have liked to be a part of this election. I know that she probably never thought that in her lifetime there would have been both an African American and a woman going for the democratic nomination. I'm sure that she never considered the posibility of her voting for either. However, I know that it wouldn't have mattered to her who she was voting for rather the principals for which the person stood. I know that she would have thought about our country and its people and would have voted for change.

I also know that if she were still here that I'd probably be her favorite now because her grandson....still a republican.

Thirty-two

32-22= The year I hit double digits
32-19= The year I became a teenager
32-16= The year I started to drive
32-14= The year I was able to vote
32-11= The year I could buy beer and go to a bar legally
32-9= The year I started my career
32-7= The year I got married
32-3= The year I had Ben
32-2= The year I freaked out on my birthday
32-1= The year I freaked out on my birthday
32-0 = The year I freaked out on my birthday

Dem Bones

Me: Ben, why don't you want your milk?
Ben: I don't need it.
Me: Why?
Ben: I already have bones and they're already strong.

Lying to your child

I've stretched the truth before with Ben to make him not worry. I don't mean to lie but sometimes I just say things without really thinking about the fact that it's actually not true, instead I'm just thinking about what I can tell my little boy to make him feel better. Rest assured I don't plan on lying to my child forever, or even mean to do it now. In fact I hope to be very open an honest with him. I hope that he feels like he can always come to us with anything and know that we will always be there for him. When he asks me where babies come from I'm not going to tell him the stork. I will be age appropriate though! But the point is that over the past few months I've noticed that I do this and that it can potentially bite me in the arse.

Like when he saw an earthquake on TV and he got scared and I told him that he shouldn't be scared because we don't have earthquakes in Cincinnati. Three days later we had an earthquake. Fortunately he was staying at my mother in law's and didn't feel it because if he had I'm sure he would have said "Mommy, you said we didn't have earthquakes.

Fast forward to two days ago when it was storming outside. Ben hates storms so I try to make them okay. We normally talk about how rain helps the flowers go. That particular morning I said "Ooh, did you hear the thunder?" He says "Mommy, that's not thunder, that's just angel's bowling." I did not tell him this lie, he's father did. Unlike the earthquake incident the only problem I can foresee is Ben raising his hand in science class and answering the question"Why does it thunder?" incorrectly. My hope is that by the time he gets asked that question he'll figure out it's not really angels bowling.

As we continued our morning and drove to school in the pouring rain a bright bolt of lightning flashed through the sky. Ben jumped a little and I immediately said "Don't worry, lightning can't hurt you." Before I could stop myself from finishing that statement I knew I shouldn't' have said it as lightning can clearly hurt you. So I start having a conversation with myself. Do I tell him it can? Do I tell him it can but it's very rare? Do I tell him not to hold a metal rod in his hand when it's lighting? Do I just let it go and the next time there's lightning I tell him it can hurt him? Honestly in a very short amount of time all these thoughts went through my head as well as how I needed to start saving for his therapy bill so he can talk to someone about how he had a mom who lied to him.

As I'm drowning in guilt my sweet, logical, creative, hilarious son says "I know mommy, those bugs are very little." It took about 20 seconds for me to realize he was talking about lightning bugs. I forgot the guilt and instead engaged my son in a discussion about how he thinks lightning bugs fly up in the sky to make lightning and then come back down at night and fly around our house.

He's three. He's funny. He'll be okay. The lightning conversation will happen but not too soon, Ben's version is much better.

Three Cheers for being Three

Ben had his third birthday a month ago...yeah, I'm slow. The past three years have been an amazing journey for me. It's hard to believe how much you can truly love someone. I love my family and I love my husband but the love I feel for my son is indescribable. Every day he makes me laugh, teaches me something, sometimes drives me a little crazy, but always makes me smile. Every now and then Andy and I talk about how amazing that this little boy came from us. Ben makes us better people, makes us a better couple. Thanks Ben Ben for the joy you have brought me and continue to bring.







Ben's "Birth"day















Ben's 1st Birthday
















Ben's 2nd Birthday

Ben's 3rd Birthday