My kid's pen pal is the President.

So, I imagine some children out there might mention writing someone famous, but never really do.  Last night, Owen got the idea in his head that he wanted to write Obama and I told him we would this afternoon.  I was half expecting him to forget, but Owen is not like most kids.  He decided his letter would look "more professional if it was typed" and being the good mom I am, I served as his secretary.  This was his letter and I can't tell you how proud I am of him for it!

Dear President Obama,

            My name is Owen and I’m eight.  I have a little brother named Gavin who is six.  I was born on December 27, 2003, so I’m not old enough to vote for you yet.  Even though I’m too young to vote, I would pick you if I could vote. 

I think that wind power and solar power are better than Mitt Romney’s ideas.  His ideas will mean less oxygen and less places for people to hike, jog, and enjoy nature.  I’ve hiked over 50 miles in the Smoky Mountain over the past two summers.  I’ve hiked Mount LeConte, Ramsey Cascade Falls, Chimney Top, and a whole bunch of other trails.  I love hiking!  Do you?  If Romney is elected, I’m worried he will ruin places like the Smokys. 

Also, I don’t want Romney to be elected because he said some people shouldn’t go to college just because their parents can’t afford to send them.  When my mom explained the story we heard on NPR about this, it made me cry.  My mom is a teacher and my dad is a distribution supervisor.  They want to be able to pay for my college, but it is really expensive.  I get all As and A+s right now and don’t want to change that.  If I get all As on all my report cards, I want to go Notre Dame.  I know I’d need scholarships and student loans to go there!  Romney’s ideas would make my dream impossible.  That’s just not fair.

Romney is not very nice.  I didn’t like how he interrupted during the debates.  That’s very rude and bad manners.  I think you are better mannered than him.  If Romney was president, other countries would not like us very much because they’d think all Americans were rude. 

I want you to work hard so you get reelected.  We put up an Obama sign in our yard and I can’t wait for my parents to vote at my school in a few weeks.  My parents also donated to your campaign.  Please tell Mrs. Obama and your daughters hi.  Good luck!

                                                            From,

                                                                        Owen  

P.S.  What is your favorite holiday?  Mine is Christmas.

P.P.S.  What types of cars do you have?  My parents have a Ford, Chrysler, and Volkswagen. 

Contrary to what some may say, this letter was indeed written by my eight year old.  Owen is an amazing child who has a keen interest in our world.  I feel blessed that we are able to provide our children with experiences that allow them to travel, visit museums, and more.  Owen realizes how blessed he is and he recognizes his success is a team effort.  Beyond our family, his extended Taekwondo family (he’s a belt below black), teachers, mentors, and friends have helped shape him into the young man he is today.  While our family has definite liberal leanings, we have taught our children to look at both sides of each issue and make a decision based on what they think is best.  I must say, it makes my heart leap a little when he makes the choice that betters all, not just a minority.  Just recently, he penned not just one, but five post cards all by himself encouraging people to vote for Glenda Ritz for our State Superintendent of Education.  Why?  Because he wanted people to know he’s more than a test score and deserves a quality public education.  Who knows?  Maybe in another 30+ years, he will be the one hoping to make the Oval Office his office.  

What does it mean to be green?

Owen was asking recently about the differences in the presidential candidates' energy plans.  He's a very green child and will pick up any piece of litter he encounters.  He recycles or reuses everything he can.  Want someone to help you plant something?  He’s your go to kid.  When we made our rain barrel, he was the one who set up extra buckets in the backyard to collect more rain water.  He’s a kid after my own tree hugging heart. 

Anyhow, I did some research for him and found this article, which summed it all up quite well.  http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/energy-futurist/obama-vs-romney-who-has-the-best-energy-plan/573 Now, I realize Owen’s only in third grade, but he does have a seventh grade reading level and is pretty smart.  (No, that’s not the mom in me talking; it is the teacher of sophomores that don't read as well.)  He read parts of the article all on his own and his consensus was “Romney just doesn't get what is means to be green.”  Yep, an eight year old gets what a grown man doesn't. 

Here was the quote we found most interesting:  By 2050, we’ll be grateful for every last kilowatt-hour we can produce from renewable free fuels. And the “debate” about climate change will be long gone, replaced by a frantic quest for survival and adaptation.

In 2050, my children will be 46 and 44.  Their own children, my grandchildren, will probably be close to middle school age.  I want nothing more than for them to be able to experience the outside as Owen and Gavin have.  I want them to be able to hike Mount LeConte, to swim in the Atlantic, to climb the Dunes, and more.  I don’t want them to be in a “frantic quest for survival and adaptation.” 

A final statement from Owen: Do we really want the imagined world of The Lorax to come true?  Because it will if we don’t all take care of our planet.   (Gosh, I love this kid.)

You need a reflector.

Dear Lady Runner, 

I'm really glad you're interested in all the health benefits of running. However, I have a little advice. Running at 6:00 am is not a good idea if you're going to wear all black and no reflective clothing. See, when I pulled over to hurl on the side of the road on my way in to make sub plans, I totally wouldn't have done it right in front of you if I had seen you. Second, 

I thought you were a member of the zombie apocalypse coming out of the shadows to kill me. That adrenaline rush was almost as bad as the heaving and I really hope you missed my pile of puke, but my hunch based on your yell was that you didn't. So, what did we learn from all this? Get yourself some snazzy reflectors AND a flashlight. You never know what you may run through.

Sincerely,
Me

How old is a customer?

At what age can one technically shop and be considered a customer?  So, here’s the scenario:  I was at a local craft store and in line behind a mom and her son.  He was probably 9 or 10.  Anyhow, he was buying a Star Wars model to assemble and had a 50% off coupon.  While we were waiting, I was chatting with him because Gav has the same model.

 

When it was his turn, he sat his purchase down, along with his coupon, and waited to be rung up with his Batman wallet in hand.  The cashier asked the mom if she also had a coupon and she replied she did.  The cashier then went on to say that only one of them could use a coupon, because he wasn’t old enough to shop alone.  The store policy is only one coupon per customer per day and he wasn’t considered a customer because he wasn’t old enough to be one- never mind the fact he had money in hand.  The boy sighed and told his mom he’d wait to buy his model.  His mom asked if she could pay for her stuff and wait outside while he paid, and she was still told no.  The boy insisted it was no big deal and his mom bought her stuff, telling him she’d have his dad bring him back later to buy the model.  I even asked if I could buy it, but because I too had a coupon, it didn’t make a difference. 

When it was finally my turn, I asked the cashier how old one has to be to be considered a customer.  She said she didn’t know, but if a person can’t drive yet, they probably aren’t old enough.  Being slightly annoyed by the situation, I told her my mom doesn’t drive.  Knowing that, does that mean she isn’t a customer?  You could tell she was getting flustered and was glad my purchase was bagged so I’d leave. 

On the way out I met the boy, his mom, and a friend she ran into in the parking lot.  Guess what?  Friend was buying the model with the boy’s money and coupon, while mom watched from the door.  The cashier still tried to refuse it!  At that point, I was about to buy the kid the model myself just on principle, when up came the manager.  Amazingly enough with a manager standing nearby, the cashier dropped the issue, rang up the model, took the coupon, and cash. 

I guess my whole issue with the scenario is here we have a mom who is teaching her son by example about managing money.  It wasn’t like she was trying to commit some huge coupon fraud or hoarding 50 bottles of ketchup.  And I’m still annoyed by the fact I never did get a real answer on how old one has to be to be considered a customer.