I am so excited for my friend Sarah, I can hardly sit still! She emailed me yesterday to say that she was invited to sit with Michelle Obama at an event in Norfolk this week. Sarah writes a syndicated column, Shore Duty, about life in a military family, and apparently Mrs. Obama wants to touch base with spouses like us.
Sarah asked a few of us fellow milspouses what issues we might discuss with the Democratic candidate's wife. Oh, the wheels they were a-turnin'! I genuinely admire both candidates' wives, and think the chance to discuss issues with either is such an honor! Here are three questions I brainstormed:
1. On Education: You and your husband were able to choose an excellent private school for your daughters. Military children change schools often, and as their parents, we become pretty opinionated about what makes a school good for our child. Shouldn't all American parents have the opportunity to choose the best school for their child?
2. On Iraq: Most military families are personally proud of our hard-earned progress in Iraq so far. We worry that leaving too soon would undo all that we've sacrificed for. How important is it to your husband that we ensure Iraq is ready to resist Al Queada and Iran on it's own?
3. On the Economy: The biggest daily effect the economy has on military moms, like all moms, is inflation at the grocery store and at the gas pump. What would your husband do so that our dollar buys more?
Apparently Michelle Obama's people indicated she wanted to talk about military spouses and working mothers. I hope she is smart enough to know that our 'concerns' are really no different than non-mom, non-milspouse concerns. That appealing to women voters does not mean addressing marginal 'women's issues.' I think she just might be.
