Can a Single Mom Make a Difference?

Can a Single Mom Make a Difference?

Posted to House Bloggers by Wanda Woodard on Fri, 01/30/2009 - 1:28pm

“A whole new world.”

We can only hope. What does President Obama bring to our highest executive post, really?

A loving marriage for one. You can see it. You can feel it.

Two young children who are experiencing something no other child in our country has before – their African American father is now the president. And he says to them that they are the reason he wanted to be president, to make the world a better place for them and for all children. That’s some kind of powerful statement.

The potential for another child? Maybe. Wouldn’t it be nice for a baby to born in the White House.

Youth. His, hers and the girls.

Hope. Absolutely. I decided to vote for Barak Obama after I read his interview with Rolling Stone magazine. That interview started me on a quest to find out who he was and what he was made of and, most importantly, what motivates him. I found out: family, generosity, belief in a better tomorrow.

As I watched the president take the oath, and as he stumbled not once, but twice (which is such a human thing to do when you’re agreeing to head up the most powerful office in the free world), I believed. I believed that this man could change our world. Am I being naïve? After all, I do know how government works. I do know that when it comes to the big decisions regarding our economy and well being, big business has the “joy” stick.

But I want to believe. I do. I want to believe that this man, his wife, his children, his carefully selected cabinet members can change our world; make it safer, sounder, better.

I’m a struggling single divorced mom with two kids in the throes of puberty  I have a good job, but I do not have much money. My health insurance, alone (which by the way Stinky is supposed to be providing but doesn’t), is $360 a month!  That’s a car payment. That’s groceries for three weeks. That’s all my utility bills combined.

I’m behind our new president. I’m praying for him to help move not one, but many, many mountains. I’m hoping this man is the one man who will take back our dignity and help our poor, our elderly, our mentally and physically challenged citizens, our children. 

And what can we do in our small lives to help this man help this country? We can do simple things that combined with all others’ efforts can have a tremendous impact on our lives and our country as a whole. Start small and build from there. 

Less is more. Less is power. Humility and grace. Start today.