P & P for Pizza

We took a break from our normal school work to talk about the elections. My boys were very "involved", as much as little ones can be, in the whole election deal. They saw a bazillion commercials saying why this person needs your vote, why this person doesn't, what this person can do for you and what this person cannot. They saw a lot of mudslinging, and heard a lot of ranting and raving. We don't consider ourselves highly political, as we trust that Jesus is our King no matter who is in office. We follow the Bible which means that we respect our leaders, as long as they line up with Scriptures.

I saw this as such a great learning opportunity for our kids in so many ways. It was a great opportunity to teach them how to treat other human beings, how not to treat other human beings, how to get excited and passionate about things they believe in, a brief scaled down version of voting, campaigning, past presidents, debates, how to be a gracious winner, how not to be a sore loser, and most important how to trust God in all circumstances.

I knew that BP was getting a little overwhelmed with the whole process, when one night he asked if instead of voting for the green party (not sure where he picked up on that one) I would vote for Jesus. Such a sweet boy, and he seriously was begging me as I was casting my ballot! I knew that come election day I just had to make it fun, and not get wrapped up in the presidential elections.

School morning came, we did a little spiel about elections and such and then we created a "What's for Dinner" poll. Our candidates were Pizza and Chicken Soup. Mostly because I didn't want to cook that night! I made them "P for Pizza" buttons to wear as part of their campaign's. They even had a ballot box for their "official" ballots.

They joined M and I for voting in the morning and then we went to the grandparents work place to have them cast their ballots. We got an absentee ballots over the phone from Uncle D too! I was so proud of BP at the shop, because he was determined to get pizza to win that he was even asking random customers to vote in his election! Oh, and an election just isn't complete without the "I voted" stickers, or in our case "Trader Joe's" fruit stickers!

I was so proud of how much they learned, and enjoyed our little election day. I was also blessed by seeing my boys get passionate about something, even though it was pizza! I was happy that we were able to make light of a day, that although a very important day for us grownups to pray and think about, that they as kids should only have to worry about being kids! Oh, and enjoying the fruits of their labor, as pizza won the dinner election!