Are we ready for a FEMALE president?

Wow what a wild summer it's been! The news cycle has felt like whiplash, especially when it comes to the United States presidential race...

And NOW, A woman might become president!

But, within moments of hearing Kamala Harris announced her bid for presidency, I heard people asking: Is America ready for a female president? Is America ready for a woman of color to be president?

Now listen: there is a conversation there. We've all seen how other bidders like Hillary Clinton and Nikki Haley were scrutinized. We all know someone that wouldn't even consider voting for a woman or person of color.

But this conversation is so inappropriate for children to hear

Children in elementary school are still learning a lot about the world. They aren't ready for a nuanced conversation like this.

When an adult asks this question, they have an entire history class of information backing it up. When a child hears this question, they are learning that there are intellectual difference between men and women. They may look inward and wonder if there's something wrong with women.

So before they get exposed to this question, here's how you can prepare:

Famous firsts: It's a special time because it's the first time. Research a few other famous "firsts" that may feel relevant to your child. A few come to mind: Bessie Coleman, Shirley Chisholm, Dr. Kalpana Chawla...

Hard work: Take a look at each candidate's careers together. They have a long history of building a career, being persistent, and taking risks. This is a great way to show that little choices can add up to big things. Great moment for goal setting!

Respect: Most Americans have pretty strong feelings about our presidential candidates. The way people talk about elections unfortunately means many kids have missed out on learning that we should respect those holding office. Check how you speak about the president and candidates. Model explaining your opinion the way you might in debate class. It's a great teaching moment.

Check your bias: I noticed that I was referring to Kamala Harris by her first name but all the other candidates by their last name only. I've also noticed the way I'm ready to comment on her clothing.

Check inward a little bit- could you form a few meaningful sentences on why you will/won't vote for either candidate? Do you refer to them in similar ways? Having taught through many election cycles, I can guarantee you that your kids will repeat what you say about the presidential candidates at school.

Shut it down: If your child starts asking about this or you hear adults discussing it, don't be afraid to shut it down. Let your child know that even though it can be fun to talk about boys vs girls, individual people are so much more than that. How would you feel if someone made judgements about you like that?

What else should I have added to this list?

My banned book video is up and people are loving it! Have you watched yet? Banned Books: UNBELIEVABLE. | Banned Book Week 2024, Moms for Liberty, & Florida