January 20th, 2009 will be a historic day for the United States. Just one day after celebrating the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., we'll inaugurate the first African-American president in our nation's history. Whether you voted for Barack Obama or not, it's a proud moment.
It's also an event that can be difficult to explain to our kids, especially young ones. They understand we'll have a new president, but they might not comprehend the full significance of this past election. And, if you don't live along the Washington D.C. parade route, it's not the easiest event to be a part of—tickets to the inauguration are going for more than $20,000 each!
Ron and I are trying to find ways to have our youngest, Adam, feel like he's a part of the process (even though he won't be voting for another decade). Many schools have mock elections, but why stop there? Our friends at JackCards.com—a great way to send personalized greeting cards—have come up with an awesome way to keep kids involved. They've designed cards specifically for President-Elect Obama's inauguration. You can order them online and they'll come ready to ship with an address and stamp included. Your family can write a note of encouragement, congratulation, or give suggestions to our new president while staying connected to the political process.
There are other fun ways to celebrate the moment, too. Since the kids will be in school during the inauguration, why not send in a batch of red, white, and blue cupcakes and encourage the teacher to let them watch the address? If you're the crafty type, try putting together this Popsicle stick White House—your kids will have fun pretending to be the new Mr. or Madam President! There's also a nationwide classroom initiative where students are folding origami "Dream Stars," writing their names and hopes on them, and sending them in to the new First Family. It's sponsored by the Legacy Project and you can read more about it here.
I hope you're finding creative ways to keep your young ones involved in this historic event, too. What are some of your ideas? Let everyone know…and we'll see you on January 20th!
Just so you know, JackCards.com is also running a contest where they'll pick one school in each state that will receive a batch of cards to send to President-Elect Obama. You can even nominate your own school. Check it out!
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