As election day approaches, I can't help but join in the fray and comment on my favorite candidate. I mean, usually, I follow the adage of not talking politics or religion, but I must say my peace.
Yes, Leah decided to run for SCA (Student Cooperative Association) President at school. Only fifth graders can run for president (and secretary) and out of the blue, Leah came home a couple weeks ago and said she planned on running.
Leah had to fill out an application in order to run, and her teacher had to fill out a written recommendation before she was accepted as a candidate. She had to write and turn in a speech, which Matt helped her with and she was allowed two campaign posters, the cost of which could not exceed $10.00. I helped Leah with her posters. There were also strict campaign rules stating candidates could not hand out candy, etc. but they were allowed to pass out flyers. Matt came up with a slogan and I created the flyers for Leah.
Each candidate was filmed giving their speech and then they were all broadcast over the school's closed-circuit TV, which they use for morning announcements. Leah handed out flyers and even had Aaron pass out flyers to his class. (Third through fifth grades are the voting population at White Oaks Elementary.)
Leah's been very excited. She really wanted to win. I don't know where this all has come from. Leah has come so far since we left Japan, let alone since she began preschool in Stafford, VA, where initially she wouldn't even talk with people other than Matt & me. Leah's best friend, Katelyn, decided to run for Secretary. I'm glad they didn't have to compete against each other. I'm not sure exactly how many kids were running for president. At the beginning, Katelyn told me there were eight kids but today I think Leah told me there were three. It makes a difference because the second- and third-place vote-getters become representatives.
So today was the big day: Election Day. Earlier in the week we told Leah we would have a special Election Day dinner tonight where Leah would get to choose the menu. We told her we were proud of her regardless of the outcome. If she won, it would be a victory dinner. If she lost, we would celebrate her bravery for entering the competition. Leah chose a menu of "brinner," which is breakfast for dinner: pancakes, eggs, bacon. Oh, and she wanted chocolate cake. Leah's always all about the chocolate. Sadly, our dinner tonight was not a victory dinner.
Leah lost the election (but her friend Katelyn won). Leah was devastated. Apparently they announced it at the end of the school day and then Leah had to stand her safety patrol post. She was standing there, at the crosswalk, crying her eyes out. I gave her a hug and told her how proud I was of her and that it was ok to be sad but she had to do her job. She tried to hold it together while I went to pick up Aaron. Aaron and I then met up with Leah and the three of us walked home. I held Leah's hand. She told me she had really wanted to win. When we got home, I let Leah and Aaron lick the beaters I had used to make the icing for her cake. I'm so glad I had set them aside when I had cleaned up because the chocolate really perked her up. She and Aaron then played out in the backyard for awhile and by the time they started playing Legos, she was back to her old self. I think she is still disappointed, but she hasn't cried since she ate the chocolate icing. She was happy with dinner and we were all happy about chocolate cake. We finished the evening with our usual FFMN (Friday Family Movie Night). We watched
Bridge to Terabithia.
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| Leah wanted oval-shaped pancakes. |
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| I made Leah a cake topper. |
I cannot reiterate enough how amazing it is that Leah decided to run for President. When she was young, she didn't even want to play on the playground if there were other kids were there. In second grade, even though classmates were friendly with her, she really didn't have any true friends that she played with on a regular basis and she had a hard time integrating into games kids were playing on the playground during recess. Now, in fifth grade, she's a safety patrol, she's chosen to learn the cello and try for a leadership position. Leah's really flourished since we returned to America. It's as if she took the opportunity when she arrived in a new city and school to re-invent herself. There are still speed bumps along the way, but Leah's really racing ahead and Matt and I are her biggest fans.
