The Day My My Daughter Said She Wanted To Be A POTUS

We are not a political family. We are definitely not like many families we know that consistently argue debate discuss politics at the dinner table. We are simply not that family.

This choice to not immerse ourselves in the drama and intensity of elections and politics has spilled over to our kids as well. So much so, that our oldest asked recently if the word caucus was “a swear.”

My youngest is especially immune. She rarely watches TV at all (which is a good thing) and if a show doesn’t exist on Cartoon Network or Disney XD, it doesn’t exist. Needless to say she isn’t exposed to the barrage of political ads on the boob tube like the adults in the house are. Even if she was, she would pay them little mind.

However, the fact that there is now a woman actively running for the Presidency has seemingly caught the eye of my glitter-and-mermaid-loving youngster. I think it was the event of Hillary Clinton winning the South Carolina primary by a wide margin in late February that piqued her interest and made her wonder what all the fuss was about.

Now, I can promise you, my daughter doesn’t know what a primary is or what “clear front-runner for the Democratic nomination for President,” means…she just knows there is a powerful female kicking bootie and taking names right now. Shortly after overhearing the details of this event on the news, she confidently marched out of her room and announced, “*Someday, I am gonna be POTUS*.”

POTUS? At first I frozen in my tracks, my already drained brain frantically search for what-the-frick a POTUS could be. New emoji? A new line of unicorn-wear for girls? Some obscure and underground Groovy Girl? A new YouTuber who caters to Minecraft fans?
Yes, I admit it, I was STUMPED.

Me: “Um…that’s lovely honey, but what is a POTUS?”
Sparkly Mermaid Daughter: “It’s President of the United States, Duh, mom!”

Whew. At least I wouldn’t have to spend the next eight years investing in Clearchat microphones, video cameras and video editing software for my budding YouTube sensation. My heart warmed at the thought of my little darling someday ruling guiding our America. A snicker also escaped my lips as I silently thought of the fear that the House and the Senate would be experience when they encountered my under five-foot tall Tyrant in Minion Jammies.

Intrigued, I pressed her for more details.

Me: “Why do you want to be a POTUS, honey?”
Sparkly Mermaid Daughter: “Because it would be cool and fun. And girls are better than boys anyway, right? You know, ‘girls are cool; boys drool?’”

After deflecting the question to the best of my ability (and yes, I think “boys drool”) I pressed my Mini-Me for more details.

Me: “Honey, if you ran for President, do you think you’d get lots of votes?”
Sparkly Mermaid Daughter: “Yes! I’d get a zillion votes!”
Me: “Would you do anything special to get people to vote for you?”
{pause}
Sparkly Mermaid Daughter: “No, I’d just want to be me. People would like me because I am being myself.”
Me: “So, if you were elected POTUS, what kinds of things would you do?”
Sparkly Mermaid Daughter: “I would make lots of things pink. Like, everything in the world would be pink. And if the boys didn’t like it, I’d tell them ‘too bad!’ I like pink and I am the boss.”
Me: “What sort of new laws would you pass to make life better?
Sparkly Mermaid Daughte: “I would outlaw homework and make the school year shorter. Wouldn’t THAT be awesome? I would also make people be nice to each other or there would be consequences like losing privileges. Just like you and dad do to me when I don’t turn in my homework, slam my bedroom door or am rude to an adult. Wait, maybe losing privileges should be outlawed too since I really don’t like that rule. What if I made a law where everyone had to take a manners class. Then everyone would have to be nice to each other, right?”
Me: “What about people in other countries? What if they do bad things?”
Sparkly Mermaid Daughter: “Well, they really aren’t different than us, right? People are people and everyone should have to follow the rules no matter where they live. I know being President would be lots of work, but I think I would do a good job. What do you think, mom?”

Before answering I pause to think…Can I picture a kid as President? Can I picture MY KID as President? In all reality, imagine what we could accomplish together as a nation in atmosphere where parents and lawmakers had “close their lips and open their ears.” A nation where adults are instructed to practice what they preach like playing nice, being respectful, treating others how they wish to be treated and always doing your best. A nation where snack time is mandatory, recess is the highlight of the day and sitting Criss-Cross-Applesauce to listen to a story being read is a treat. The possibilities are endless…and potentially filled with lots of glitter, glue and pink.

Me: “Yes Honey, I really do think you would!”


Rebecca is a freelance writer and blogger living in Northern Minnesota. She is the dedicated mom to two beautiful kids, a veteran blogger at Frantic Mommy and someone who loves to laugh about the trials and tribulations of parenthood. If another mom reads her corny stories and thinks, “Thank gawd it’s not just me!”….mission accomplished. You can also follow Rebecca on Pinterest