The big vote
This week marked another big deal for Vanessa – the first time she was allowed to vote.
Unfortunately, she didn't see it quite like that, with the total apathy only the young can show towards important national events.
Of course, this sent me into a right temper.
And aware that I was sounding just like my mother and grandmother before me, I used that time-honoured phrase: "Other women died so you'd have the chance to cast a vote!"
Queue a full-scale flouncing off and slamming of bedroom door.
I wasn't going to leave it at that. "Apathy was how Nazi Germany started!" I shouted up the stairs.
Once I gained entry to the pink sanctum that is her bedroom, I got her to log into her laptop and go to Radio One's guide for first-time voters.
It was very helpful for her, once we'd circumnavigated some Page Three model's guide (how is that helpful to anyone? It'll distract the boys badly and make the girls switch off with hatred and jealousy.)
Once she's seen the main parties and their basic policies, it didn't take her long to realise who she actually did want to vote for – and that all of the "big stuff" really would have an impact on her life.
The parties' policies would affect her chosen career in childcare; how much tax she would pay if she finally gets a job; how any cuts would impinge on her NHS treatments.
She made the decision; she was ready to choose. So we set out together to the polling station and she cast her vote (I trust she put her cross in the right box, mind).
And I reminded her of the most important thing – that she'd had her say, whatever happened, and she didn't have to tell anyone who she'd voted for.
That's her right as an adult to choose.
This election may have been one of the biggest messes in a generation, but at least Vanessa got something positive out of it.
She had a real spring in her step when we left the polling station – she'd achieved something new.
And the way it looks, she'll have a lot more practice in general election voting in the next couple of years than I did at her age!
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Weather for Sunderland
Friday 10 February 2012
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Temperature: -3 C to 2 C
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