39 Days Until the Vote

You know, before I took on this Levy Chair position, I was a pretty normal person in my opinion. I was a typical stay-at-home mom. Went to the gym, hit the grocery store, had coffee or lunch with a dear friend once a week if I was lucky, picked up my kindergartener after school, he and I played, then picked up his brothers. I worked on homework, ran everybody around to their activities, made healthy, sit-down meals for the family, found out how everybody’s day had gone, got the kids to bed, hung out with my husband Jon, surfed the net, read or watched a little TV, went to bed and had a good night’s sleep (although a little less good since I turned 40 – whatever that’s about).

Since I took on this position, my life looks completely different. I do still go to the gym because it keeps me sane, I rarely go to the grocery (the Mariemont Kroger shutting down was a great excuse!); coffee is now with fellow Levy volunteers to discuss Levy stuff. My phone has rung more in the last few months than it has in the last few years. I am late more often to get my kindergartener at pick up and he plays on the computer a lot more than we play together. I do get my older kids at school (again later than normal, and my normal is already late). They’re on their own for homework until it’s ready to be “checked”, and I am constantly answering the question, “Mom, do you have a meeting tonight?” with “Yes.” We’ve had pizza and pasta more than I ever thought possible (mostly cooked or brought in by Jon), and Jon and I catch up on the fly. Surfing the net, reading or TV is not on the agenda.

So, yes, my life is different these last few months. But I must say, in some ways it’s better. And here’s why – I’m doing something I passionately believe in! Something that, when it’s successful on May 4th, will change my kids’ education, other kids’ educations, future kids’ educations and ultimately our entire community. As we get closer to May 4th and are gathering widespread support, I’ve allowed myself to imagine just how amazing it will be to have new and fabulously renovated school buildings as the cornerstones of our community. Buildings that we can be proud of and that keep the architectural integrity of our villages. It’s a pretty cool thought to imagine our kids inside those new/updated buildings experiencing every day the very best we can give them, in the very best environment we can provide. Wow. And all you have to do to experience this is Vote Yes!