I have always believed that politics and religion can bring out both the best and the worst in us, and in the last three elections, the latter has been painfully obvious. This election was particularly polarizing and divisive. Friendships were broken, there were bitter exchanges, and countless arguments took place in real life and on social media — and that’s just the beginning. I can see countless reasons why things didn’t go as many hoped, and the extreme reactions are proof of the frustration.
But in my household, something different happened. Last time, I don’t remember having detailed discussions about the election. We all voted by mail due to COVID, and it was Anand’s first time voting.
This time, Dad and Ajey voted by mail, but I chose to vote in person and encouraged Anand to do the same. I wanted to feel the power of exercising my right to vote and wanted him to experience it too. He’s a visual learner, so voting in person was the best way for it to make sense to him.
The night before, we talked through the ballot. I explained the five presidential candidates, the local elections, and the ballot questions. I didn’t know much about local politics, so I followed my party, but those five questions required discussion. Ajey, my historian and guide, had different views on a couple of them, so the three of us discussed our options.
At the polling center, Anand felt right at home, as it was his high school. He walked confidently ahead, greeted people, and chatted with a mom he knew. We got our ballots and went through them together. He didn’t have the patience to read everything in detail, but a few prompts helped him make his choices quickly.
The questions were more detailed on the ballot than in our conversation, so I showed him where to find the essence of each question, and he made his selections. He finished quickly and went out to the car while I chatted with poll volunteers, collected my sticker, and walked out feeling elated by the experience with Anand.
Whatever the outcome, it’s time to pull ourselves together, be kind, and move forward with life.
A beautiful kanjivaram for a bday party and a musical night. A gift from a family in Desi Moms Network. A special gift as the dad was the one who chose this saree for Jaya”Ji”.
I wore it for their celebration and wore the same for the evening musical get together too.
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