America's girls
So I woke suddenly at about 3:30 this morning, seized with free-form worry about kids. This wouldn't be an unusual event, except that the kids weren't mine. They were Sasha and Malia Obama.
Now of course this doesn't make much sense, since the darling Obama girls have everything they could need and want, and most importantly, two parents (plus a live-in grandma) who obviously adore them and put them first. Still, there are several plausible explanations for my disrupted sleep:
1) Let's just say it: I'm a completely neurotic mom.
2) The proximity dream theory applies -- the girls, not far from the ages of my own kids, couldn't help but creep into my subconscious after I'd watched them on television for hours yesterday.
3) With their father's swearing-in, Malia and Sasha are now, in a sense, America's children. They're part of the energy and youthfulness of this new administration, but they're also vulnerable kids, and the moms and dads among us know how hard it may be for them to live under the microscope.
Did any of you wake up worried and wondering why, too?
(Associated Press photo/Jae Hong)
Comments
No.
Posted by: Skewed Tomato | January 21, 2009 1:55 PM
I understand they spent their first night in the White House with classmates, watching movies in the theater with and ended it with a private concert by the Jonas Brothers.
Nothing is all good or all bad.
Posted by: Bucky | January 21, 2009 2:27 PM
I think it's completely understandable to worry about those girls! So many DC kids are talking about Malia and Sasha. I ran into a bunch of kids at the metro who were ecstatic after seeing the Kids Inaugural! Over the past week, I asked hundreds of people in the area, including children at Wolfe Street Academy in Fells Point, to choose a word to represent how they feel about the inauguration of Barack Obama. I then took their portrait with the word! The words included “Proud,” “Hopeful,” “Skeptical,” and “Angry.” No one chose angry! But there were definitely some “Skeptical” people out there!! And “Curious” too.
Kids chose “Love” and “Obama”. I think because little kids love to say “Obama.” It has a good sound!! Older kids, like age 8 or 9 chose the word “Excited” a lot.
The result of my photos is this great video/photo essay. It’s really inspirational. The love for the Obamas is so moving.
http://vimeo.com/2895468
or http://www.emilytroutman.blogspot.com
The video definitely will help me remember DC’s optimism and energy before everyone analyzes it to death!! Of course, we’ll probably never tire of those girls!! –emily
Posted by: Emily Troutman | January 21, 2009 5:43 PM