Adventures in Voting

I admit it.  I want a redo.  I regret my decision.  I need to change my mind.  UGH!  I am so disappointed with myself, so not happy with myself.

On Monday, I voted.  I had to.  Well, I didn't have to vote on Monday exactly.  I had to vote early.  I had not registered to vote, so Early Voting was my only option.  I guess I didn't HAVE to vote at all for that matter, but in my eyes that is not an option.  Voting is a right, it's a privilege, it's a must.  There are people, and even more women all over the world who are not allowed to vote.  So, for someone who is a legal citizen with no felonies in the USA to not vote, in my opinion it is inexcusable.  As a military spouse, I, 100% understand what the wives of the men who shed blood for our right to vote went through, and I believe it is important for me to exercise my right...otherwise the blood was shed for nothing.

So, I picked Monday to be my day!  Why did I pick Monday?  For many reasons...1) I thought Monday morning would be a slow time and the line would be super short, 2) I remembered that the voting site is down the street from my house, and 3) the BIG one, both my kids are in school at the same time!  This last one was key.  This is the reason that pushed me over the edge and made me decide that yes, after dropping them off, I would go vote.

I was right.  It was a perfect day and time.  No lines, I went right in, placed my vote and was out in about 2 minutes.  I got my little early voting sticker and was on my way.  Nothing makes you feel more "adult" then voting.

Then I realized, I messed up.

If you have read some of my other posts you know how I feel about making sure my children know from an early age the power of volunteering.  How can I be so passionate about that and equally passionate about voting and not realize the golden opportunity I had to teach them about this process.  It was the perfect day for it.  The lines were short.  It was super fast.  It was down the street.  We could have left the house 5 min early and still been on time for school.  It would have been a fantastic opportunity to insert some practical application of what I try to teach them here at home.  CB is still a little young, but J......that kid remembers everything.  He would have soaked it up.  He would remember.  He would understand, ok maybe not understand, but he would get it at least a little bit. 

I'm not very political.  I do have very strong opinions on whom I voted for and if you would like to know reasons feel free to message me.  Probably from reading previous posts you are able to gather where you think I might stand.  I just prefer not to get into an online debate.

I want to throw out there that this is what I did.  What you do this year is going to be best for you.  I am not advocating that you must take your children with you to vote.  In fact, I live right down the street from the voting center and I have been offering childcare to my friends who want/need a few moments child free to vote.  I am not saying that you are a bad mom if you don't take your kids to vote.  I am just saying that I wish I had done things differently!

 I also wish that most political figures would be more honest. 

I wish there were some better examples for our children, in all areas of politics, from the local to the national level.

I wish I had taken my oldest with me to vote.

Next year, my friends, next year...there are elections every year, not just every four you know!