PTO Today

Drinks and Limes all around.

Miss u all hope the summer was good.

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[B]Liberalism is not an affilation its a curable disease. [/B]
[I][B]~Wisdom of Shawnshuefus[/B][/I]
[B]The punishment which the wise suffer, who refuse to take part in government, is to live under the government of worse men."[/B]
[B][I]~Wisdom of Plato[/I][/B]

Shawn?!?!? Shawn Shawn Shawn Shawn Shawn!!!!!! You sure have been missed around here. Hope [I]your[/I] summer was good.

I just finished James Frey's [I]Bright Shiny Morning[/I] ~ awesome as and audio book ~ set in Southern California. It made me think of you a lot.

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“Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same.”

It's official--here's the link:

Editor's Query - washingtonpost.com

The editor that selected it only works Monday through Wednesday..I'll bet she's a mom...
d

D -What a great story! As always, your writing is wonderful.

Wow, d. That's amazing! A lot of wisdom in a few words. You're right, sometimes that's all you need. No platitudes, no lecture, no patronizing, just a simple truth. Thanks for sharing it with us.

I hope everyone had the kind of Labor Day weekend they were hoping for. Mine was great.

Shorty's on the countdown to Driver's Ed. Six weeks till class starts, 15 weeks till he can test for his permit. I'm glad they throw it at us slowly so the gray hairs can pop out two or three at a time instead of springing out all at once like trick snakes from a peanut can!

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“Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same.”

Great story d! Sometimes we're so involved in "the moment" and our frustrations at that time that we forget that it is just "a moment" and there will be better moments ahead, moments that bring us more joy than we can even express.

Aaah Driver's Ed!! At this point my daughter seems to have 0 interest in getting her permit. We are going to make her do it though. I want her to have a couple of years under her belt driving with us before she gets her license. She just turned 14 at the end of June so she's at the younger end of her class and that gives us time to get her lots of adult supervised practice.

How is your son liking high school, CC? My daughter seems less than enthused. She's already got SO much homework and I'm not sure how the "social situation" is going. She talks very little about her friends and doesn't seem to want to do anything with anyone except one friend who doesn't even go to her school. Homecoming is happening soon and I talked with her about it this morning. Hopefully she will make some plans with some of her friends. She also has a meeting today for a club she decided to join, so hopefully she can meet some nice people there too. She's like her dad--she expresses very little of her feelings. Drives me insane!!

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Hey Rocky, watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat.

Hey Luv. He loves high school so far. With a September birthday he's older than most of his classmates so he's comfortable with the older (10th-11th grade kids). He's also already nearly 6ft tall so he blends in well.

Shorty went into high school with a large group of good friends and a girlfriend of six months. He has at least one friend in each class.

Also, I think it helps that the high school and middle school share a campus, busses, track, football/baseball/soccer fields, etc so the environment is familiar.

I feel for your daughter. I was not outspoken at all and didn't share any feelings with my parents. I was happy with one or two good friends and was not a social butterfly. If your daughter is otherwise happy and not showing signs of stress, maybe she's just fine with the way things are. But keep talking to her. You may have to drag things out one small bit at a time but at least she knows you care!

Also, you've mentioned how intelligent she is. Kids who move up to the honors or AP classes get a lot thrown at them and it isn't as laid back or easy to get as middle school classes. There's an adjustment period but with a positive attitude and help at home, she'll do great!!!

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“Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same.”

I guess, I just remember being so shy in high school and she is just like that. It was so hard for me to step into unfamiliar situations or be bold enough to ask to be included in things. I was lucky to go to a small school and to have some friends who were much more assertive and towed me along. This school is so big, I know I would have been sick to my stomach the whole first week! She seems happy at home-a bit stressed over the homework-so maybe you're right, maybe she is happy with things just as they are. I guess I want a little more for her-to see her step out of that comfort zone and be a little bolder.

As for homework help: I've had to dust off the memory banks to help with Advanced Biology. So far, so good. Thankfully, Advanced Geometry hasn't stumped her yet.

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Hey Rocky, watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat.

I just saw some ladies that were starting a girl's self esteem class for our girls in ELEMENTARY SCHOOL...but honestly I think it is som important with girls to make them feel strong and confident about themselves. I think my daddy did that for me...for whatever good or bad it caused. It's hard though--walking through those halls feeling insignificant. It's good to keep an eye on LUV and keep dialoguing with her about things. Before things build up--knowing what feels "normal" to her is important.

High School--excuse me whilst I shudder!!!
d

I know Dove(the soap company) sponsors some self esteem workshops for girls. They really are bombarded with these ideas of what they are "supposed" to look like and act like by the media even at the elementary level. Just look at the magazines, TV shows and even commercials. Even the little girls playing in the My Little Ponies commercials are all decked out in the latest fashion, hair perfectly styled, and no missing teeth in those smiles. Come on, what 2nd grader looks like that!! Then there's Hannah Montana......

You know, I didn't cry her first day of kindergarten, but I did her first day of high school. Not in front of her of course! Just sniffled on my way to work after dropping her off.

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Hey Rocky, watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat.