So I kept hearing about all the LINES and the WAITING for voting this year, and I was determined to go, but equally determined not to take the kids with me. They are not old enough to appreciate the process, only old enough to whine incessantly and be miserable when forced to stand in line for more than two minutes. So. I convinced Jim to work from home today, got up a little early, got the kids all dressed and fed and changed and played with, and had Eli down for a morning nap by NINE AM. Nice. Then I got Addy busy with her paints, grabbed my purse, double checked my stance on a few issues, and dashed out the door.
Our precinct's voting center is the high school that is literally about two blocks away from us. But I was still feeling anxious, thinking LINES. Instead, when I got there, I had to wait behind literally one person, and was then immediately ushered through the speedy process of having about six rather old people find my name in their books, squint at my driver's license, copy down my first name as KAREN instead of Sarah (how?..wha?) and then discuss how they went to high school with a kid who had my very same last name and do I know good old Joseph so and so?
But that aside, whoa, the voting process was speedy quick and painless for me. I'm proud that I planned for any and all disaster, but yeah... I probably could have saved those plan-ahead skills for times like, say, when Eli had a poo blowout at the Y the other day and I realized my diaper bag was fresh out of wipes.
How about you? Everyone out voting with kids in tow, or did you have a contingency plan?
Why yes, I do have my hands full, thanks for noticing.
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14 comments:
we didn't have to wait either, it was perfect! There was NO one at our district's table when we arrived. T and I both went together and took the kids with us. Between the two of us it would have been ok. That way I didn't have to go alone, but I went early in my own car so T could go to work right after.
I left the three littlers with my mom, and brought the two biggers with me. I had them bring books, in case there were long lines. But we were behind only two people to check in, and then half the booths were available.
just in case you're interested (which you my NOT be!), your election is a huuuuuuuuge deal here in australia! the first thing my husband and i said when we got up this morning (it's already wed morning here) was 'any news on the election? well, what about exit polls at LEAST?'. last night we had a dinner party, and there was quite a lot of discussion on it, too (would Barack have the landslide predicted? Is McCain a dark horse? What about the Bradley effect? what about a REVERSE bradley effect OMG?! are they even THAT different on foreign policy?" etc etc etc.
so any news you guys can give us on the election is very exciting for us.
I should say that the fact that both my husband and I are lecturers in political science at university may play some small role in our fascination and enthusiasm ;)
I took the 7 year old girl with me and tried to teach her a bit, but she wasn't too interested. Our 9 year old son went with my wife and he seemed interested in the process. We went at separate times and left the baby at home. We didn't have to wait in lines either.
I took both kiddos with me - important to me because it was the first presidential election of both their lives. . . but I would have turned around and taken them home if the lines were too long. It turned out that there was NO line - whew! So we happily voted and went on our way.
I took Zachariah with me...I always do. He was interested in watching what I was doing. I waited for about 20 minutes at our table before getting a ballot. But there were only a few people in front of me. 1. The old ladies at the table were all old and slow...I'm just saying. 2. More than half of the people in front of me had issues that took longer to handle. And then #1 again. Ugh. So, it took longer than normal, but wasn't too bad.
NO KIDS with me this time, because last time that didn't work well for me.
My husband voted early, getting to the polls at 5:20. Polls opened at 6, and he was 40th in line. He got through the process in 45 minutes once the polls opened.
I got the boys to the sitter's and then went to work early. I left work to go vote at 10am, thinking that would be off-peak timing. I waited an hour, in a line of approx 100 folks. Not too bad.
I really had no choice but to bring the kids, but luckily there was no line here either. Both girls got their very own sticker and treats from the bake sale, so it went pretty well.
My kid was at MDO, so it was perfect. I brought a book, ready to wait, though in all I was probably there 20 minutes. Then I had a serious voting high going on. Is voting exhilerating (sp?) for everyone or is it just me?
I made husband stay home with the kids, all of them. We had LINES. LONG LINES! But, we both voted.
My County or maybe state??? only does absentee ballots. I voted a couple of weeks ago.
I agree that voting is exhiliarating!
To answer susan... we've been having the exact same conversations!
"would Barack have the landslide predicted? Is McCain a dark horse? What about the Bradley effect? what about a REVERSE bradley effect OMG?! are they even THAT different on foreign policy?"
Regardless of how one voted (and it was an agonizing decision for me), I think last night was a very exciting night and I am so thrilled that we have come so far. Think about it... Martin Luther King Jr. was killed just 40+ years ago, and now we have a black president. I hope this can really bring healing to race relations in America.
I've taken the older two before, but I can't remember which election (couldn't have been that long ago, and I KNOW it wasn't a presidential one). But, yes, I got up and went in at 6:15 to (hopefully) avoid lines AND to specifically avoid taking the (almost!) 4-yo. Only waited about 15 minutes--yes! Hubs was going to take the older two as it was so historical, but got freaked out when the website said he wasn't registered (even though he WAS when he checked just a few months ago--yes, he DOES tend to obsess). He didn't want to deal with that mess with the kids, so he just put them on the bus and made phone calls before he went. Yes, he was fine. Yes, the website was acting wonky. Yes, our kids missed out on witnessing him vote in this historical election. They weren't really bothered about it--too much.
I voted alone on my way to work with no lines. Bud was intrigued by voting though. I'll bring him when we vote for local stuff next year; I think he'd enjoy it.
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