An open letter to the parents of the world...

Dear Parents of school age children.

If you disagree with your child's teacher, please attempt to do so civilly.
If you MUST get forceful, do so with the full understanding that you may be harming your child.

A good teacher will not dislike your child. They will give the child several chances.   However you, the parent, will never get a second chance to be liked. The teacher will never willingly call you again and therefore you will not receive the notice you'd really like about your child.  Heaven forbid you get a teacher who is not so good...  a teacher who's already iffy... you've just put your kid on the permanent hit list.

Thank you!
Educators everywhere

**I origionally wrote this months ago and stuck it in "Drafts" so I could cool down.  It is no less true now than it was 6 months ago!

** See also this article which I didn't write but I completely agree with!

I need to DO something

A while ago, I posted about all the people in my life who seem to be having such a hard time of it... one of those was a co-worker who's son turned 1 in May.  That precious little child has been fighting leukemia since about 6 months old.  They thought they had turned the corner... they had their little fighter home again and his counts were going the right direction....

This week they found out the leukemia is back.  Most devastatingly, they are out of options.  This adorable child has been given only months of life.

I know it is not my child, but it just as easily could have been.  What happened to these young parents was a fluke, one of life twists that you can never anticipate.  I have been crying on and off all day.  Then I cry because if it makes me this sad, I can't imagine the crippling grief of the family.

I keep hugging my kids, they are starting to think I'm nuts!  I can't tell them, they don't have any idea about this family or that little kids can die too young.  I don't want them to know.

I don't know what else to do.  So far I've spread the word, asked strangers for their prayers, and eaten too much chocolate.  I know there must be a better solution... I hope I think of it soon.  I'm running out of chocolate!