Warning: Giant venting going on here. If you are in a good place, you may want to stop here! 🙂

My writing has been off for the last month, and I was trying to decide which to post: a snarky post about myself and my poor writing skills or a snarky post about Iowa Republicans and their instance on underfunding Iowa education and their introduction of a voucher plan in our state.

#toughchoicesIknow

On top of the fact I have little professional confidence right now, am suffer from writer’s block, and have ZERO confidence in my elected official to do the right thing, this day has been a rollercoaster of emotions. I took part in a “eat and greet” kind of program where we talked about a life skills class I’m teaching, a strengthening families class we can’t get parents and their kids to, and how we continue to grow each. I didn’t realize the students enjoyed what I was teaching, so that was good to find out. One of the discussions was about mental health, which lead to a different conversation with out 8th grade team about students who were cutting. After that discussion, I learned that a parent from another school had committed suicide. Our daughter is friends with their daughter, so we had a good discussion about mental health with our daughter at supper tonight. This lead to her showing us her “Dorian Semi-Finalist” certificate, which she is super proud of. She sang at the Dorian Music Festival at Luther College, the largest select choir in the country. She and 750 of her closest friends prepared solos, and our daughter was one of 15 to be called back to sing again. She didn’t get the final solo spot she wanted, but was so happy to have that opportunity.

So, it’s 10:43, I’ve just finished another batch of caramel rolls for my basketball team and I’m tired. We have practice tomorrow morning at 6:30, and I’ll be honest, I spoil the hell out of them, like I do all my teams. If they can come in to practice early, I can make them rolls. I’m emotionally spent, and really have no way of recharging right now. I know each of those girls deal with different things, so I’m just trying to be that stable place, on the basketball court. Besides, we are 1-8 in our last nine games, so my coaching is questionable at best! Ugh! 🙂

The title of this blog is “What Are We Doing,” and that’s my question. What are we doing to that 8th graders are cutting and talking about suicide as a viable option? What are we doing that we have to have the “Wait Until 8th” program mentioned, asking parents to wait until 8th grade to purchase a smart phone for their student? Where is the common sense that says a fifth grader will not to the right thing with that kind of technology, no matter how good they are! What are we doing that we are raising a generation of students who are overweight, have more allergies than ever, who are connected, but afraid of life? Students who are anxious and depressed, yet posting smiling pictures on Instagram.

Like I said, it’s been a rollercoaster, and it’s all coming up here. Thank you for allowing me to vent.

Hug your kids.

Call your parents and tell them you love them.

Tell your spouse, significant other they matter to you.

Because tomorrow could be too late.

#keepthefaith