Upright Citizens

The first order of business is to describe Muriel's dogged determination to always be either standing or sitting up. Of course, she is too little to do either, but she seems not to know that. Every time we plunk her in the bouncy seat, she does this hilarious ab workout routine that makes an otherwise luxurious recliner look like the most uncomfortable chair in the house. And there is no un-recline in the bouncy seat, so this sad state of affairs is going to continue until we find her something else to sit in, or she starts just walking around on her own. Naomi learned how to stand up and hold on to things at six months plus a week. Muriel's trainer has leaked information that leads us to believe she is on track to break that record.

Also, Muriel is starting to figure out that those hands she always sees waving around belong to her, and that with a little effort, she can do things with them. Like hold one with the other, hold that weird frog and turtle that always appear before her when she's in that way-too-reclined green seat, bring said frog or turtle up onto one of her shoulders or (somehow) to the top of her head and leave it there, and scratch little messages into mom's chest whenever she's in the Baby Bjorn. Oh, and escape from the nighttime swaddle, and bring them comfortably into her mouth, which uses them to make loud smacky, sucky sounds at 2:30 in the morning. Who knew they would be so useful?

On Tuesday night, the other small citizen of our republic and I attended a vigil for children's health care. I think the veto override vote is tomorrow, so if any of you all have a wavering Republican in the House (not your house, THE House), get thee to a phone. I was on the fence about bringing her along. On the one hand, good to be involved in a cause I am not a bit conflicted on, and good for Naomi to see what involvement (albeit not particularly efficacious involvement, I think) can look like. On the other hand, I dislike as a rule any appearance of using kids who don't know any better in the promotion of some position or other. Remember that "pass it on" billboard, with the three- or four-year-old girl on someone's shoulders, waving an American flag, and the word (I think) "Patriotism" below her? Yeech. What could be a less meaningful (and more manipulative) manifestation of patriotism, a problematic enough concept by itself?


Anyway, yeah, already sufficiently insured toddler girl in mom's arms on the street corner in front of Crate and Barrel, holding up her veto override sign for the well-heeled pedestrians and drivers of downtown Bellevue...I don't know. And lest anyone think that maybe she really did know why she was participating, she was pretty sure that people honked because they liked our signs.* I will not pain you with the details of our not-particularly successful conversation in the car on the way there about how all children should be able to go to the doctor...

My parents modeled participation in democracy in the sense that I knew they were voting, I guess. And there were always those little right-to-life roses on everything. But my wish for my kids is to really feel a part of the process, and feel they have a stake in it, in a way that I didn't. I am not blaming my parents- I have a particularly strong focus on myself (see: this blog) that is inherent in my personality- but I was apathetic about politics for a long time, because I didn't think it mattered. In fact, it rarely did matter to me because my life never changed much no matter who was in power or what they tried to do. I guess this is the legacy I do NOT want to pass along- that if it's not touching me, it doesn't matter. Because of course, the decisions of our leaders make a big difference in countless lives, and those lives and those differences matter, because they are my fellows. Fellow citizens, fellow parents, fellow children. (see what I mean? I am nearing middle age and am only just now figuring this out?!) This is what I want my two little citizens to bring out of childhood with them. I know about the stages of morality development, how self interest comes before other-interest and all that. But maybe actions of this kind will lead to habits on my part, and memories on their parts. Good luck to us.

*When you see those street-side sign holders and you're down with their message, people, give them a long, loud honk. Repeated honking is also good.