I had the brilliant idea to capture a moment when my 5-year-old daughter, Rosie, declared she wanted to dress up as Hillary Clinton for Halloween. My partner, Mark, and I decided to join in on the fun by donning Secret Service agent costumes to accompany her on our neighborhood trick-or-treating adventure. I even made the sacrifice of shaving for the occasion!
Initially, I wasn’t planning to share this photo publicly. Despite having built a modest career out of creating humorous family images for social media, this one, like most of my family snapshots, was meant to be a private keepsake celebrating a special moment in Rosie’s life.
Rosie’s admiration for Hillary Clinton started several months ago when her pre-K class discovered that no woman had ever been elected as president. To my surprise, the entire class—both boys and girls—were baffled by this fact. Rosie came home that day, eyes wide with curiosity, and asked, “Daddy, who are you going to vote for?”
It was just two weeks before the primary, and I was caught off guard. Up to that point, Mark and I hadn’t even mentioned the election to Rosie, yet here she was, eagerly waiting for my answer about a race I was still undecided on.
“Um, who do you think I should vote for?” I replied.
“Hillary! Hillary Clinton! Please?” she urged.
“Why Hillary?” I asked, half amused, half impressed.
“Because she’ll be the first Girl President! You have to vote for her!” she exclaimed.
“Okay, we’ll see,” I said, delivering my standard dad line.
In that moment, I felt a twinge of envy toward Rosie’s uncomplicated perspective on the election. It was obvious she hadn’t been influenced by social media or the barrage of negativity surrounding the campaign. She didn’t know about Hillary’s past controversies or the criticisms that had followed her for decades.
Five-year-olds (at least the ones I know) love to complain about fairness. Yet, most of the time, their claims are just tactics to negotiate for dessert first or to dodge wearing socks. I often wonder how Rosie will react when she eventually grasps the real injustices in the world. Will she become cynical, using systemic unfairness as a reason to give up? Or will she be the kind of person who stands up for those less fortunate, recognizing her own privilege while advocating for change?
For now, I cherish viewing the world through my daughter’s sheltered eyes. In addition to my envy, I felt immense pride at her proactive response to learning about an unfortunate aspect of American history. Instead of feeling defeated, she decided to take action, wanting to right a wrong. Months later, her enthusiasm remains unshaken. She has asked her grandparents who they’re voting for and has even engaged in conversations about the election with anyone who would listen, including some of Mark’s coworkers at a dinner party.
One day, Rosie spotted my “I Voted” sticker after the primary and eagerly demanded to know my choice.
“Who do you think I voted for?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Hillary?” she guessed, eyes sparkling. “Did you vote for her?”
I nodded, and she jumped into my arms, hugging me tightly. “Thank you, Daddy! I just know she’s going to win!”
That was the moment I realized that not only did I feel proud of my vote, but Rosie’s simple, optimistic view of the election was exactly how I needed to think. Her unwavering enthusiasm has been a bright spot during what has otherwise been an exhausting and dispiriting election season.
As I created the image of Rosie dressed as Hillary, I initially intended to keep it for family amusement. But when I shared it with friends, their reactions were overwhelmingly positive, filled with smiles and laughter. It seemed everyone was worn out by the constant negativity and vitriol flooding our timelines. If our family fun could bring even a little joy or inspire some positivity amidst this chaotic election, why not share it?
However, I hesitated due to fears of backlash in this hyper-political climate. Unfortunately, people can be harsh, and I worried that trolls might attack my family simply for expressing our views. It’s a scary time, filled with examples of hostility directed at anyone who dares to disagree.
To gauge Rosie’s feelings, I explained that sharing our photo could bring joy to many, but it could also invite negativity. “Why would they do that?” she asked. “That’s just mean.”
“I know, but that’s how people are being right now,” I told her.
After some thought, I asked if we should still share it despite potential backlash. Her answer? “Who cares? I want people to see it.”
I adore that kid. She inspires me and gives me hope. This election, I’m definitely with her.
In summary, Rosie’s innocent enthusiasm for Hillary Clinton serves as a reminder that seeing the world through a child’s eyes can inspire hope and positivity even in challenging times. It’s a testament to the power of believing in change and making our voices heard, no matter the obstacles.