Research shows that mothers' political attitudes have more influence on childrens' political attitudes than fathers'.

Well, I got to witness an example of why in our household.

I was downstairs working on web pages for the school. The TV news readers were saying things about the Republican convention. Political ads were flying through the ether to our electronic receiver.

I think I heard the first question ten-year-old David asked his mother: "Is Paul Wellstone really an ultraliberal?"

The conversation lasted for two hours, ending at midnight. I listened as well as I could, but the moments were so magical, that I feared my joining in would disrupt the "teachable moment."

Basic courses in U.S. government, politics, ethics, and human relations were taught in our house that night.

The topics ranged from Presidential elections to political parties and labels to schoolyard conflict resolution to the theory of democracy.

I was in awe of David's focus on the topic and his voracious appetite for knowledge, examples, and explanations were amazing.

I was also in awe of Nancy's teaching. I envied the opportunity she had. It's not that our politics are all that different, it was the "teachable moment" I envied.

I was lucky a few days later when David and I had a discussion about philosophy because of a book he saw Nancy and I reading (I'm not finished yet, you'll have to wait until next time).

It was a short, half-hour dialogue about most of the BIG questions asked by people in the West during the past 3,000 years.

David proved he's just the right age for these questions by taking them seriously and admitting he didn't know the answers.

For us old folks, it may be too late.

I once took a copy of Kris' A Wrinkle in Time to the Carleton bookstore where Madeline L'Engle was signing books. When I met her and asked her to autograph "my daughter's copy," she said, "It's too bad it's not your own book. But, you may just be too old for it."

I was startled. She was right.