We heard back from the White House

It was a nice packet-a form letter from the President, photographs of Barack Obama and of Bo, an info sheet with a map of the White House on one side and some kid-friendly interview questions and answers from the President, and a little coloring book about the White House starring Bo.

It doesn't matter that it was a form letter...Naomi feels like her voice was heard, and at almost 5 years old, sometimes that's hard to realize. I hope that the experience she had writing this letter will start her on a path of political engagement and involvement for the rest of her life-one where she cares about what's going on in her world and who is chosen to lead it, where she remains aware and doesn't hesitate to speak up about what's going on, good or bad.

It's a nice time for this to happen-with the Supreme Court hearing arguments in two human rights cases relating to same sex marriage, it's been a hot topic in our house. Naomi knows that her parents pay attention to what's going on in our world and have strong feelings and that we say so. And she also knows that she can take those strong feelings and put them into a letter (even if she needs some help) and that she'll be heard.

What a marvelous thing to know. Her great-grandfather was a frequent writer of letters to the White House, and I know he'd be so very proud of her if he could see her now. I hope that she carries that part of him with her for a long, long time.