The first time I took my son into the voting booth

[ezgoingrl]

with me, he was 2 years old. I wanted to share this most fundamental of rights with him so that he would believe in its importance just like I do.

I turned 18 just a couple of days before the voter registration deadline in Oklahoma. I cannot remember being more excited about a birthday because I was finally old enough to vote, not even my 16th or my 21st were as exciting to me. Yea, I guess I was a nerd back then too!

When my son was young, our conversations about what I was doing were simple. Over time, our talks became deeper and more meaningful. I would even take my ballot and my son off into a corner where we looked at it together, discussing candidates and issues. My little boy just turned 14. We still talk about candidates and issues. Now, he does most of the talking, giving weight to what is important to him and I listen proudly.

On Saturday, I will take my 6 year old half African-American/half Caucasian niece with me into the voting booth. We'll talk about what I'm doing and why it's important and the explanations will be simple. But this time...THIS TIME, I get to vote for someone who looks like she does. Abby has only recently noticed that she looks different than her family does. She lives in an extended family environment with me, my kids, her brother, her dad and my parents.

Regardless of what happens November 4th,this election is a victory in small ways just like it is a victory in big ways. I'm confident that all over this country little boys and little girls are inspired and reassured that it's okay to be precisely who they are, no apologies.

I am humbled and grateful to be a witness to what I've seen and heard during this campaign. And someday, I will tell Abby the story about the day we went and voted for Barak Obama. How freaking cool is that!!!