How a Fourth Grader Sees the Election

School began about as usual, Math, spelling etc. But today the teacher, Mrs. Awd discussed the election of the President of the United States. Next week the people of America were going to vote as to who they wanted to be the president. She told the children who wanted to be the president. In the corner of the room Mrs. Awd had set up a pretend voting booth. Many of the children had seen them before. Each child was given an opportunity to place his or her vote for the one they wanted to be elected President of the United States of America. The results were tallied and it was not surprising that a great majority followed the opinions of their parents. In their discussion, after the voting, Mrs. Awd was not surprised to hear them defend their parents opinions.

When school was out a number of the children went to the after school program. In the middle of the afternoon Miss Armstrong called the children to the tables and had a talk with them about the upcoming election. It was an exciting conversation. She gave them the opportunity of writing what they would do if they were President. One had said lower taxes, another said lower mortgages, then their was the child who wanted to give everyone free ice cream.

The next day the children were so focused on the election that they began taking impromptu questionnaires. they asked all the children and teachers to vote. Who was the nicest child care provider? Who was the most liked child? Who was going to get the best grades in school?

Voting day was coming up. When Mrs. Awd asked what they thought of the day she was amazed by some of the responses. The most common response was that they were all glad they did not have to come to school. But one little girl said she was excited because she was going to be able to stay up very, very late. When asked why she could stay up late she didn't know but she was happy to stay up late anyway.

A Childs View of Foreclosures

The three boys meet on the sidewalk before the bell rang only long enough for Jimmy to tell the others he needed to talk to them at lunch. They all quickly went to their room and began the morning schedule. Math, english, today was gym, library there was really no time to talk much. Both Sam and Jared could see that something was really bothering Jimmy. As they looked across the room at him they frequently saw his face in his hands or his head on his desk. This was not normal for Jimmy. He looked like he wasn't paying attention or even apart of the gym class. There was usually heavy competition between the boys, but today Jimmy was laying out with the slower boys. It was really odd.

Lunch finally came, Sam and Jared almost ran to their spots in the cafeteria. They saw Jimmy coming very slowly. They both burst out at the same time. "What is the matter with you?"

Jimmy blurted out, "This is my last day at school here."

We were both shocked and speechless. What could we say but, "Why?"

Jimmy began to explain slowly and picked up the pace as he continued. "My mom and dad have been fighting now for months. It has been awful. I thought for sure that they were going to divorce like Jake's parents. they kept on saying they didn't have the money for this. they didn't have the money for that. I did not get the point. We always had money for everything we wanted...forever. Now we don't have it. All I hear is money, money, money.

Yesterday evening my Dad blew up and said we just could not do it another month. I was sure that this was it. He stormed out of the house before dinner and did not come home till after I was in bed. Then it happened again, two fights in one day. This time my mom was quiet. I was surprised when I began hearing things clanking and rattling. It was too late for this noise. I peaked out of my room. I was that curious. Was Dad leaving? Was Mom leaving? What was happening?

Mom found me and took me into my room and put me back to bed. She was the nice calm mother I had always known. She told me that we were going to be moving. She told me that we could not take our time but had to be out by he end of today. I would go to school and they would move while I was gone. When I came home we would go to a new house. The only thing I am happy about is that the whole family is moving not just part of us Like Jake's family. Mom said they were not divorcing but that there were some tough times. It was all about money.

"When I grow up" Jimmy said, "I am going to have so much money that no one will ever tell me I have to leave my house. I'm going to buy me a house for my mom and dad too. That way they will never have to move either."

My Very First Post

What can I say? Another blog, another blogger, another possibility. Everything must have a beginning. Every walk takes a first step. These sentences, this paragraph will be the first of many. Where are we going and how are we getting there? These are interesting questions which will take many posts to fully determine.

My purpose for beginning a blog was as an outlet for writing. There is so much to share. So many stories to tell. So much information to pass on. The blog community was calling my name. Dragging me into the web of bloggers who are shooting words onto the internet at ever increasing rates of speed. Words with many motives and directions.

We will disclose our purpose and motivation in further blogs. Tonight let us be at rest to know that we have begun. And with excitement we anticipate and exciting ride.