Sunday, October 17, 2010

The South Rides Again

Bedtime is a wonderful thing. Small children are finally quiet. And in our house, that is a huge feat.

What is your bedtime routine?

Likely it’s similar to ours. Brush teeth, read stories, music turned on, hugs, and kisses.

Well, last night brought a new dimension to bedtime.

Anna Grace was tucked in bed with books and music playing. Country music, no less.

When I went back to check on her a bit later, I heard this…..

“And Kyle Busch is in the lead.”

Huh?

The child fell asleep listening to the NASCAR night race.

Y’all, I know we’ve lived in the south for a long time. But seriously??

Yes, daddy watches NASCAR. The girls have their favorite cars....they don't care about the drivers. But....really??

Hmm, come to think of it, the little girls are from southern China.

Guess they have southern blood, huh?

Heaven help me.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Life Lessons....

***I posted this several days ago but deleted it for personal reasons. However, I had a request to repost it as it is valuable information for parents.

Don’t know about you, but the world is much different than it was when I was a teenager. It’s scarier. It’s unpredictable. It’s uncontrollable.

How do we protect our kids from this?

The answer? We can’t.

All we can do is teach, pray, and hope for the best.

I want to tell you all a story. Listen carefully.

I know a student who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He witnessed an illegal event on school property that should not have taken place. He failed to report it to school officials.

Three days later, another student reported it. And guess what?

Long story short, the witness was considered “guilty by association.”

In addition, he was issued the same punishment as the students who actually participated in the illegal event.

Please, please, please warn your teenagers to be extra cautious. Please warn them that their lives can be altered within minutes. Please tell them their lives may never be the same again. Please get them to understand that “guilty by association” is how the world works.

You know how I know all this?

The witness was my child.

Let’s just say that mama bear took on the school system. Mama Bear knows her rights, knows how the system works, knows what to demand, and knows when errors are made within the process.

The punishment was reversed. And rightly so.

But what about those parents who don’t know their rights? Or those who are afraid to speak up? Or those who think whatever the school says is gospel? Or those who are afraid to challenge the system?

That’s the reason behind my post.

Don’t let schools scare you. Don’t let administrators bully you or your child into something you do not agree with. Make notes. Go to meetings prepared. Be ready to speak the truth and speak up for your child.

But most of all. Don’t be intimidated by authority. Question it if you feel they are wrong. You are within your rights. Move up the chain of command if needed.

The three things I want you to know from my experience are……PLEASE make sure your kids know they can be “guilty” merely be association. Implore them to be extra cautious even around friends. Your friends may not truly be your friends.

Fight for your rights. Fight as hard as you can. Don’t be bullied.

But most of all, make sure your kids know you love them regardless of the outcome.

We only have one chance at raising our kids. There are no re-do’s.

Don’t let someone else dictate your child’s future if you know they are wrong.

Please.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

My Redneck Life

What is the big fall event in a southern town? Any guesses?

The County Fair.

And guess what?

I have never taken my children.

I just don’t love the fair.

But my teens have been….once they were old enough to drive.

So Alex went all day yesterday and arrived home late last night with three friends. Three friends who swim in a glass bowl.

Yep, carnival goldfish.

He named them Darth Vader, Joseph Stalin, and Piranha.



And just a short twenty-four hours later, we have celebrated two burials at sea. Only Joseph Stalin still lives. But for how much longer?

With the arrival of the fair is the arrival of fall. Today actually felt like fall. Amazing! We hit a high of 68 degrees but that did not stop my girls from playing outside in shorts and barefeet.



Based on those nasty feet, they must think we live in Alabama or something….

Welcome to the south. =)