thank you, mr. president

Today, the 44th president of the United States took office. If my girls have any memory at all of this historic event, it will probably be of their mother dragging them away from their dress-up game and forcing them to sit and watch a man saying boring stuff on TV.

"I don't like Barack Obama" declared Abby.

"Why?" I asked.

"I don't like boys."

Presidents, apparently, are no exception. I would like to think that President Obama, father of girls, would understand.

"And. I don't like real people on TV."

This is a well documented fact. The girl much prefers the cartoon format.

Claire, on the other hand, was happy to see her man on TV.

"I like Barack Obama! I like boys!"

Neither girl seemed to take any notice at all of the new president's skin color. And why would they? In their world anything is possible. People of all shapes, sizes and colors mingle with furry monsters and princesses.

The speech that followed focused on the challenges before us as a nation and our ability to rise to meet them. A classy and inspiring speech.

But it was the following passage that struck me as I sat cuddled with my girls on this snowy January day...

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies....which sees us through our darkest hours... It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke.... a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Courage... determination... willingness to nurture a child.

In his inaugural address, President Obama included "a parent's willingness to nurture a child" among the most meaningful, most important acts undertaken by the American people. Things of great value, done for the greater good. Things worthy of great respect.

More respect, in fact, than we mothers often give ourselves.

In the daily minutia, it is so easy to lose sight of the greater purpose, the greater value of performing each act. Easy to discount the sacrifice that takes place when we change our lives and our goals in order put our children first. It is easy to allow our contributions to be trivialized.

So thank you, Mr. President, for reminding me of all that is great about our nation and for reminding me, and reminding the world, of the great value of what I do as a parent.

May you continue to inspire us all.