Parents don't need this advice!

We're being told to limit children's use of noisy toys? Good God, I've been trying to send that memo to the grandparents for fifteen years.

Talking with the teachers

After hearing all the rumours about Great Mills High School, and then having Son #1 come home and confirm all those rumours in anecdotes great and small, Hubby and I have been a little uneasy about the whole experience.

Over the past week or so, I have met personally with 2 of his teachers, and am very impressed with both. They have a firm grasp of who Son #1 is, and are willing to do whatever it takes to see him do well in class. And they like him.

Last night, in the car, Son #1 was telling me about his friends at school. One, in particular, was annoying him, because "He treats girls just like Mercutio did, in Romeo & Juliet!" He kept on relating the stuff he'd learned in English class to his high school social scene. It was awesome. So, naturally, I had to email his teacher about it. Because I know that his written work is not generally indicitive of his mental grasp of material.

She emailed me back, thrilled with his comments about the play. She obviously feels the way I do, that he is getting the material on a deeper level. She also told me he is "a joy to have in class".

Did you hear that? MY SON, that one, is a joy to have in class. I am so happy to see someone else knowing him and feeling that joy. He's a great kid. I think, maybe, that crazy, chaotic, "bad" school is going to be a good place for him.

Sex Ed!

Today, I am going to the school to approve Son #1's participation in Sex Ed. Oh, joy...

I'm trying to imagine just what this would look like

Apparently, Muslims are developing more negative attitudes towards America.

So, bombing our buildings, killing our civilians at home and abroad, attacking the Cole, flying innocents into the World Trade Center, etc, etc, ET FRICKIN' CETERA: that was all just a mildly miffed Muslim world. NOW, they're REALLY angry.

I can hardly wait to see what THAT is gonna mean.

problem solved!

I found cucumber flavored, unsweetened bottled water at Target today. It is perfect.

Perfect because it is unsweetened. I am getting enough sweet in cookie form, these days.

But especially perfect because of that magic word, "cucumber", on the side of the bottle. I'll never have to share this with any kid. It's an iron-clad guarantee!

Public School Quotes of the Week

Son #1 reported that one of his fellow students never does his homework. He doesn't participate in classroom discussions. He doesn't pay attention to lectures. He curses at the teacher and shouts during class. He often skips class altogether. This week, his teacher had had enough, and asked the kid what he expected to be able to achieve in life, with that kind of attitude.

"I'm gonna make as many babies as I can, and the government will give me money for every one, and people like you will pay for it."


Also this week, his health teacher said, "Most people can handle marijuana". Is that so? Most people can smoke marijuana and have no ill effects? Like, getting arrested, or becoming a slit-eyed no-account loser, or just having their skin develop that ashy sheen? If marijuana is so damn great, maybe they should pass it out to everyone. I'm thinking the schools are only about a hair's breadth away from that, anyway.