Election Day – it was a huge day no matter how you were voting. My Facebook news feed went crazy, and in the end there was disappointment for some and elation for others. But you know who took Election Day the hardest? My 3 year old. Why you ask? Well, this past Tuesday, Greenleigh learned that toddlers don’t get the right to vote. A travesty, I know.
It all started on Tuesday evening when I picked the girls up at daycare. Immediately, Greenleigh eyed the “My Vote Counted” sticker I received earlier in the day when I cast my vote. She wanted that sticker. Lucky for her, Erajh had planned ahead and had saved his for her when he early voted. I promised that her sticker was waiting for her in the car, but that wasn’t good enough, she wanted needed to know where I got the sticker.
I explained that I received it when I voted earlier that day. “Boat?”, she replied…her “v” sound isn’t exactly perfected. I began to try and explain the fundamentals of democracy, only for the backseat to erupt in screams of “I want to boat! I really, really want to boat! I need to boat!”. It was at that point I broke it to her that only big people vote, and naturally, more screaming followed.
Amidst the screams coming from the backseat, the questions started. Did puppy vote? Did kitty-cat vote? Did her friends at daycare vote? Did our car vote? No, no, no, no, I replied. I tried explaining the qualifications for voting, but they fell on deaf ears. Until she asked the final question, “Did my Eh The Bunny boat?”.
Greenleigh (7 weeks old) with Eh The Bunny
Ridiculous. Of course her stuffed lovey bunny that she’s had since she was 7 weeks old didn’t vote. Hell, “he” a stuffed head attached to a blanket. But I was so tired that I decided to agree. “Yes, Honey, your Eh The Bunny voted today.” I know, I know, I’ve done this before and regretted it, but I was tired and figured any way to end the questioning was fine with me. And all would have been fine except that wasn’t the last question. It never is. Ever wonder why people confess to crimes they didn’t commit when being interrogated? I understand – I’ve been interrogated by a 3 year old. Relentless doesn’t begin to describe it.
“How did my Eh The Bunny boat if he doesn’t have arms?”
Excellent question. “Oh, I’m sure someone just read him the ballot and took down his choices,” I replied, cringing that this would create more questions about what a ballot is, but Greenleigh was content and the questioning stopped.
For the moment.
The next morning we were in the kitchen getting ready to leave for daycare when Greenleigh turned to me and said, “How did my Eh The Bunny get to the boat?” What boat? What was she talking about? And then I remembered my lie from the day before. “Oh, he probably drove. Let’s go to school now, okay?” And all was well again. Until that night when we were driving home and she asked how Eh The Bunny drove if he doesn’t have legs.
Pretty much every day since, I’ve gotten questions about Eh The Bunny and the “boat”. I’ve considered coming clean, but it probably wouldn’t make a difference at this point. In her mind, this bunny voted.
And it doesn’t help that he flaunts his sticker.
Speaking of that famous sticker, on election night, I decided to turn the questions on Greenleigh and asked her who she would have voted for. Despite being bombarded with political ads for the last few months, her response was – “The sticker!”. Naturally.
That is hilarious. Reminds me of my little sister begging to be allowed to vote.
Cute