Pants-Free Parenting: Breaking the glass ceiling of presidency

With all the recent political traffic in Iowa, my 4-year-old daughter has a lot of questions about the presidency. What is a president? Do they have kids? Where do they live? What do they make? What's a law?

I took the opportunity to show her pictures of our past presidents and talk about what each of them have done. George Washington: Founded the nation. Theodore Roosevelt: Helped poor people. William Howard Taft: Got stuck in a bathtub.

After that history lesson, she took a look at all of the presidents and crossed her arms. 'Why are there no girls?”

I remember having a similar reaction as a young girl. 'Why not a lady?” I told my mom. I don't remember her answer, but I do remember I decided then that it would be me.

Somewhere along the lines, my plans for the presidency devolved into writing for Internet. And while I am proud of my career so far, I'm sure my outraged preschool self would be disappointed. Not in me specifically, but that not much has changed since I was four. So, when I saw my daughter cross her arms and glare, her sense of indignation so strong, I told her that women can be president, it's just that men haven't always been nice to women and have worked hard to stop them.

'Well,” she said, 'When I'm president, I'll make them be nice or go to jail.”

So, at 4, my child has already conceived of hate crime legislation. Sorry Hilary, but I might have to vote for her.

I am so proud of all the work feminist have done to make the world a better place for my daughter. But it's depressing still that in that sea of male faces of American leaders, there has yet to be a woman. That women still earn 77 cents for every male dollar and women of color earn even less: Hispanic women earn 54 cents to the male dollar and black women 64 cents. This isn't new. This should shock no one, but the fact that little has changed since I was four and my daughter's recent revelations, is appalling and my daughter has the right idea: cross her arms, wrinkle her nose and decide to make it illegal.

Still, I wish I would have handled the conversation a little better. And if you have the chance here are some responses for when your daughter asks, 'Why aren't there any girl presidents?”

Now you know why mommy is angry all the time.

Because of bullies.

We will have one soon, honey. Hold on.

' Lyz Lenz is a writer, mother of two and hater of pants. Email her at eclenz@gmail.com or find her writing at LyzLenz.com.