Teens Who Vote

The government says 18 is the magic age, we are an adult. We can move out of our parents house, join the armed services, get married, get arrested, drive without parental permission and we can Vote.

On this historic election, I have two children going to vote. They have been raised in a household full of civic duty and pride so of course they will vote. As small children I would bundle them up and take them with me. One year I was a poll watcher and all the girls spent the day with me at a an election site. When president Clinton came to town, his secret service men spent hours joking with my son and his best friend about their light up shoes. Our town has long been an opponent of O'hare expansion and my son at 12 collected signatures and submitted a petition to several elected officials. There is so much more.. they are all civically aware, of course this is not because of tv or radio or even their friends. No this is because they were taught all of their lives about their civic duty.

Now tomorrow we will vote together once again. This time I will proudly walk in with my son, the other will vote as he can, and help get him set up. Watch him walk to the booth and probably cry. A mother's true joy...When did that happen.

Finally their voices will be heard.. what a wonderful thing