Vote for Yourself as a Mother

By Ellen Wheeler

“So what happens now?” My son looked up at me. The election results were everywhere on on the news. He had gone with my husband and I yesterday to watch us vote. It has been impossible to avoid talk of the election and he could tell something important was happening.

“Well, now we know who is going to be president. In January there will be a big ceremony at the Capitol where he will be sworn in as President of the United States.”

“Will the President get to tell us what to do?”

“Kind of. The President helps run the country and keeps us safe.”

My son thought about this for a second. “Will the President make a new bedtime?”

I laughed. “No sweetie. I’ll still set bedtime.”

“Yeah. Only moms set bedtime.” My son went to his room and started playing.

What a wonderful thing. My son’s biggest concern about the election was bedtime. He didn’t care about foreign policy and taxes. He wasn’t concerned about swing states. He didn’t even care about which political party the President was from. He could see the turbulence, and he wanted to know, was I still going to be Mom?

Like many of you, I was dutiful on voting day. I went out. I filled my ballot. I even researched the local referendums before going to vote. I had worried for months. I had argued. Made phone calls. Prayed. Cried. Prayed some more. 

When I saw the results roll in, I had so many thoughts running through my head that I had almost forgotten. I’m the one who makes bedtime. I’m the one who will tuck-in my son tonight. I’m the one who’s going to raise my child and help him become all he can be. No President can do that. No law or ballot can be a mother. I am a mother.

We’ve been caught up in voting and elections these last several months. And for good reason. But now it's time to cast a new vote. Perhaps the most important vote you can cast. Vote for yourself as a mother. Let this change in our nation be motivation. Step up as Mom. Rock your life. Rock your kids. Rock the world. 

You are the one that sets bedtime. You are the one that holds your children when they cry. You are the one your children will turn to. You are the one who will truly define your children’s future. So vote YOU. Vote for yourself as a mother. And step into that role.

So to answer my son’s question, “What happens now?”

We rock.