Slopping over...

I try to leave as much of the world outside my program as possible. I want it to be a place that's a break for the kids from regular life... sibling rivalry, arguing parents, worries, homework etc... keeping the world from slopping over into our little program is one of the goals that's in front of me all the time.

I have, on occasion, been asked about my politics. I have a standardized sort of answer that politics are best left OUTside of our program, that arguing over them will never change anyone's opinion or the outcome of any of the voting, and that my personal opinions are exactly that... personal. That I won't tell them what I think about the candidates. Then I change the subject. Snacks, craft ideas and gym games are usually pretty safe topics.

:)

Two of my girls decided today to run against each other in a mock election.

It started with cute little campaign signs:

'Vote for Lacey if you want a happy life!'
(don't vote for Penny!)

It escalated.

'Penny isn't very nice. She hurts people's feelings!'

'Lacey gives mean looks to little kids on the playground!'

The two girls were beginning to become angry, and they were recruiting people to their campaigns. The group was dividing, and becoming polarized. NOT what I want in my little group of children.

And then I stepped in. We had a group discussion about why I was putting a stop to the politics, the campaign signs were put into the recycling, and the rest of the afternoon proceeded in the usual way.

Too bad we can't have our little program slop over into the rest of the world, huh?