Day in and day out I say to myself that I need to sit down and pilfer through all news topics on the election so I can catch myself up to speed before I go vote. I refuse to go into a voting booth uninformed, and I prefer to go in unbiased. Regardless of the drama that has become the Presidential Campaign of 2016, I will not use Hillary's email scam against her and I will do my best to find some redeeming qualities in Trump's campaign before I pass a judgment on him. With that being said, a precious 9-year old girl with big brown eyes spoke to me about the campaign and she stopped me dead in my tracks when she said "Sissy, I'm scared," as if she fully understood several of the many consequences idling over top of our nation.

Here we are less than 20 days away from the election, and a number of voters aren't sure which way is up at this point. How did we get so twisted around? The ever-looming date of November 8, 2016 is approaching faster than a single inhale while we hold our breath to grasp every word spoken in each debate--afraid to miss the next scandalous phrase ushered from Trump's mouth. With so much catching up to do, the one thing that I find the most important about this election, the one thing we should all value the most, is the effect this muddy race has had on our children.They're not old enough to vote yet, they're barely old enough to vote for their student class president, yet they are very much aware of anything and everything that has happened during this presidential campaign.

One social studies teacher in Wisconsin remarks that this election has proven fatal as he teaches the functions of government to his students. Brent Wathke faces challenges daily as a new fear arises in his students with each passing political discussion. Wathke never enters a class discussion without a gentle warning that students are by no means to respond to each other maliciously, and interrupting will not be tolerated as it is in the presidential debates. Thus far, the social studies teacher beams with pride as his students handle each discussion with couth, but it's the small comments from his students that sews concern in his brow. What is he to do when a child walking through the classroom door, from a Trump supporting family, shouts something about building a wall to keep out immigrants while there are classmates of immigrant descent sitting in the room?

The ordeal of censorship is one massive problem to be dealt with in a separate conversation, but it is important to reiterate that this election is going to effect us all, including our children. Our children are in a precarious position seeing as they are ineligible to voice their opinion and have it rock the boat in the election.

Claire Cain Miller writes a compelling piece for The New York Times in regards to this campaign's toll on our nation's young men. I hadn't honestly considered the aspect she provides until I read her article, but Miller brings to light the darkness in the phrase "Boys will be boys." At grade school level, we dismiss boys and their inappropriate behaviors as a character of their youth, but are we really setting them up for advanced failure? Melania Trump recently wrote off her husband's degradation of women as "boy talk," but it's clearly a deeper issue than that--one that should be fleshed out using political discussion. Young boys are not just "acting out," when they speak inappropriately or behave in such a way that stunts their intellectual growth. Miller points to an in-depth study conducted by Marianne Bertrand and Jessica Pan, which reveals a gender gap in non-cognitive skills that can be handled at an early age. The study results in more data for disruptive boys based on home life and less eligible data outside of the home environment. Therefore, it's safe to say that we can prevent the "Boys will be boys" phrase from applying to our children--starting within the sanctity of our homes.

It is within these same homes where our children develop political opinions that are not their own in any way, shape or form. Adults influence their children's opinions, whether proactively or not, according to several interviews described in an article by The Atlantic. However, it is possible that many children will reject their parent's stronger political teachings once they are out in the world on their own with the chance to learn more beyond what they were taught.

On the other side of all this, young girls are in the spotlight thanks to every comment made by Trump and the wrong move could propel them in the wrong direction immediately. If a young woman supports Trump she may be labeled as a woman against the rights of her fellow women. My main concern is the women that are now speaking out against Trump's assertive behavior towards them since the release of the video of Trump's conversation with Billy Bush. There are now stories coming forth from years and years ago. I completely understand the fear of speaking up when any sort of uncomfortable situation occurs, especially when dealing with a man made of money. It seems that women too often are brushed off or bought out when they defend themselves against wealthy men, but are we raising a generation of victims as those that are harmed wait until these opportune moments to speak up? I cannot speak for the women that waited to come forth until this dirty laundry was aired, but that is not an example we should set for our girls. This is the ideal time to teach young girls to immediately speak up rather than wait in the event that something happens to them. Regardless of your opinion of Hillary, she does serve as a role model for girls as she tears down the boundary for women that want to run for president; women truly can do anything they set their minds to. Clinton may have handled Trump's behavior with poor judgment, but she addressed her recent case of pneumonia well as she heightened her moment of weakness as a way to put women's health on the GOP's radar.

What's the point of all this? As Michelle Obama said in her most recent speech, "This is not politics as usual," and the outcome will have an outlasting effect far beyond me and far beyond you. In the next 20 days, I ask that you take time to weigh your options carefully. Base your decision in the voting booth not only off the manner in which your country will be effected today, but base your decision off the manner in which your children will be effected at school on the playground, in the ice cream shop, or at karate class tomorrow.