Summers End

Well, my six year old, Isaac, starts first grade on Tuesday...hopefully all goes well! He's very excited and seems to have blocked out the 'issues' he had at the beginning of last year. We're letting him enjoy his selective memory at this point in hopes that last year's calls from the teacher and principal to pick him up early (from his half-day Kindergarten class) will not repeat this year.

Then there's poor Elijah who won't be 5 until October so he still has another to go before joining the ranks of the 'big kids.' He is heart broken that he still doesn't get to go to school but promise of Sunday school seems to have lessened the blow. I'll take him with me when I go in to teach my Sunday school class. It gives us a little time together too and is kinda our thing.

Last week was a fairly light one for me - no home visits, team meetings - just my regular paid job and the typical homework. Next week will be interesting, Monday is the last day of the Domestic Violence children's group and there's a team meeting for the dad that just can't seem to "Say No!" Although I did get good news on him last week - he finally (after a year) had a drop (pee test) that was clean and I mean ZERO not just low numbers...yippee!!!!

I'm working with Family Services right now to get a group for teens started at juvy. We should be starting it this fall. That will be a challenge for me since teens aren't exactly my favorite age group. AND these kids are on lock-down so they will be forced to go to this group (not necessarily wanting to be there). But we (society) at some point have to try to break the cycle of (relationship, domestic) violence. What better time than when we have their complete attention?!?

It's time for me to head off to bed so I can get up and finish my homework.

A Must See Movie.....

Yesterday my husband and I watched a movie called, American History X. It's an older movie, from 1998, but my husband insisted I sit and watch it. (He had seen it before.) So even though I had a paper and some other homework to do I took the time to sit and watch it. Admittedly, only a few minutes into the movie I couldn't pull myself away from the movie, even if I had wanted to.

If you want to watch it without having the story line ruined - stop reading now! If you don't mind my rambling on about the movie and giving it away...read on.

Personally, I think that every parent needs to watch this movie with their teen...EVERY parent with their teen. It's a dramatic reminder of how impressive our kids are, especially during their teen years, as well as how our kids listen to what we say, and at times, what we fail to say.

A teen boy who had the world at his feet - did well in school, had an open and loving mind - in the blink of an eye became a hateful and violent individual. He not only fell to the rantings of a hateful, greedy and uncaring man but he drug his younger brother in with him.

The oldest boy, played by Edward Norton, made the extreme change to hate after his father was murdered, but that was just the catalyst. The event that really made that switch possible was a talk that the father had with him prior to the father's murder. It was a simple dinner discussion where the father shared his dissatisfaction with Equal Employment Opportunity Commission policies that  had been implemented. The father was promoting neo-nazism just a concern. But after the father's death the eldest son falls prey to the hate-mongers.

He eventually sees the light after having some horrific events occur and tries to save his younger brother from the experiencing the same mistakes.

My husband and I just sat there for a few minutes after the movie was over...sigh...it was a lot to digest, but well worth the emotional journey that the movie took you on. My husband and I had some really good discussion after watching it yesterday on hate, parenting and being conscious of the example parents set for their kids.

Definitely a must see!

Once Again...

Well, here I am once again trying to get this blog going. Not only that but needing to lose weight! (Notice I didn't say trying to lose weight.) I've been going to the gym on Mondays and Wednesdays and trying to watch what I eat...most days. Just feeling really tired, but I know if I were to dig in and make myself workout more often I would feel much better and, especially if I really tightened up on what I was eating. But here I sit, 1:00 am on Saturday night just finishing up on some homework at least for the night. I'll be back at the home work tomorrow morning only to break for church and an occasional play moment with the lil' fellas.

Not complaining, necessarily because I am blessed to be able to work, go to school and volunteer like I do but just sayin'. And really I could fit working out in very nicely, but just haven't mustered the energy...what a vicious cycle of being too tired to exercise but feeling more tired and crappy as more weight is gained. I just need to stop with the nonsense and buckle down.

It wasn't but a year ago that a dear friend of mine died from a stroke. My genes put me at high risk for being a victim of a stroke and generally, hispanics suffer from the strokes that will kill. I know, I know...get off my tush...NOW!