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I asked because I suspected she was very young and it's a shame she is so involved in the political arena that an election result would bring her to tears.

I'm all for sixth and seventh graders discussing world and domestic events but I really wonder why a child would be so emotionally tied to the results of an election. I guess part of it was the taunting by the other students but I guess I'm just old fashioned and enjoy seeing kids be kids.

A lifetime of political heartbreak awaits them in the future, if that's what they choose, but at 13? Yikes.

It seems to me that the lesson could have been taught in a simpler less personal way. When I was in school we had debates about petty things but the lessons learned were the same without having to worry about real life politics.

"A lifetime of political heartbreak awaits them in the future..."

I agree. Kids need to have a chance to be kids!

My daughter was about 15 during the 2000 national elections. I can recall her telling me about mock elections at her school that were basically popularity contests, with the candidates being selected for the shallowest of reasons. I know that she basically voted the same she knew I would (parroting the actions of her dad - just like Melissa did), but she was nowhere near as caught up in it an my friend's daughter appears to be.

In the years since, I have done what I can to teach her to evaluate races and candidates as she showed interest and competence to understand it. Disappointments? Yea it smarts. But it's only heartbreaking if you can't put it in perspective.