Election time/get your kids involved

VOTE!! This post is geared for families with kids who are no longer infants. It is that time of year. Our mailboxes are filled with flyers telling us to vote yes on this and no on that. The phone is ringing and if it isn't the IRS, it is possibly the recorded voice of a celebrity telling you why to support a candidate.Television and radio spots are election related. Many give a collective sigh of relief when election day comes and goes. But take a moment and remember what it’s all about. It was drilled into me at an early age that voting matters. I have early memories of going with my parents to their polling place. Knowing something about the issues and people running for office is our responsibility. Of course growing up in Pennsylvania was quite a bit different than the robust California ballots that we are faced with here. Having to figure out how to vote on all of the propositions can be overwhelming. Let your kids see the process. Invite friends over to talk about the issues. It is a great way for them to to see that many of the ballot measures are multifaceted and often not black or white. How do you weigh all of the arguments? How do you sift through all of the information to find the points that sway you the most? How do you deal with friends and family who are of different opinions. How would they vote if they were eligible? Why? There are so many talking points and lessons to be learned. If you vote by absentee ballot, have your kids help you fill them in and put them in the mail. If you go to the polls, take your kids with you. And wear your "I Voted" sticker proudly.