Dread of Presidents’ Day: An Author’s confession
I assumed when my chapter book, Ellie May On Presidents’ Day, was launched, that Hillary Clinton would be commander-in-chief. Hillary Homzie the author — Hillary Clinton the president. It had a nice parallel structure.
That obviously did not happen.
When Hillary lost the election, I — like many of my friends — went through the classic five stages of grief.
1. First came anaphylactic shock/denial.
2. Then anger or, in this case, a hissy fit (“it’s a mistake, there will be a recount! but she won the popular vote”).
3. Third the bargaining stage (“Okay, God, what do I need to do in order to wake up from this reality TV presidency nightmare? How about if I clean my office, floss twice a day, mail those thank you notes and return my overdue library books”).
4. Fourth, dysthymic malaise i.e., a general sense of overwhelm from binge watching CNN.
5. And finally, a gradual and grudging acceptance, and some renewed hope as the Mueller investigation nears its conclusion.
So when the first book in the Ellie May series, about President’s Day, came out, I was terrified. I worried that parent and kids alike would flee from any title with the word “President” in it, tainted as it was by the current resident of the Oval Office. Kind of like the word “trump” as in Ellie May “trumps” other kids in her class. Sadly, we just can’t use that word any more.
But here is the thing. The presidency is as an institution that is much larger than one person‘s tenure (or temper tantrum) in office. Now more than ever, our kids need to study and learn about the presidency as an institution if the next generation is ever to learn from ours.
In my book, Ellie May desperately wants to be flag leader on Presidents’ Day. She exuberantly resorts to all kinds of tactics that don’t work. She wrestles with honesty, and, yes — this is a spoiler albeit a broad one — stands up for truth even though dishonesty would be more convenient.
Now more than ever, we need to have conversations about leadership and honesty in the classroom, in our homes and, certainly, in public life.
This is a conversation not to be embarrassed about but to be celebrated. So please spread the word and make Presidents’ Day something we can continue to be proud of.
Hillary is the author of many books for children, including the Ellie May chapter books, a CBC Hot off the Press Anticipated Bestseller, and Queen of Likes, which was optioned by Priority Pictures and is a PJOur Way selection.
Hillary teaches in the summer graduate program in children’s literature and writing at Hollins University, and coordinates the internship programs for Arts & Humanities at Sonoma State University, where she is on the communications faculty. Visit her at Hillary Homzie and request a copy of her honestly curriculum for primary school teachers, which she will email you when it’s ready this spring. Also, visit Hillary on Twitter or visit her character Ellie May on Twitter
