Party of Five

Those who know me personally, know that I am passionate about my own kids' education.  I believe that, without a doubt, no one will advocate on their behalf more than I will.  That passion rolls over to their elementary, middle, and high schools, to our school district, and to students everywhere who deserve to have someone looking out for them, making certain they have healthy and safe options and opportunities in education and their community. So what happens when 200 of the most die-hard and like-minded advocates for students from across the state of New York State get together for the weekend in one location? Leaders are born and inspired, and change begins to happen. As the current Vice-President of my son's elementary school PTSA, and having also been recently appointed to serve my Regional PTA Board as the Education Chair (Because apparently I actually enjoy reading and keeping tabs on what's happening in education!), it just made sense to accept the invit...

This was one of those rare mornings when I was up, awake, showered, dressed, dropped a kid at designated location, and managing to run errands....all before 10:00.  These kinds of mornings don't generally happen very often when you're a "non-morning" person, and quite honestly, it amuses me when I find myself being that productive. On this rare productive morning, I stopped at a local grocery store to pick up a few things.  It wasn't even my "normal" store, but one that I drive by frequently.  While I was standing in the check-out lane, I noticed that it was exceptionally dark outside...and raining. Is there anything more frustrating than trying to load groceries in your car when it's raining?  How about when it's pouring rain?  Having to walk out into the rain with your shopping cart and dodge the drivers who don't see you but are only focused on the empty parking spot straight ahead.  Or attempting to avoid the small lakes that are ...

When you are moved in such a way to write about an individual, their life and their character, it's a telling way to remember them when they're so important to you.  It speaks volumes, however, when more than one person will find a way to express themselves, writing in such a way that you desperately want the world to know the importance of these people in your world.  My brother already penned his tribute to this special couple and he wrote the words that I couldn't find myself at first within those early hours.  Today my heart is sad because I will miss this woman's smile, but the memories of her are sweet.... Yesterday morning, I received a phone call from my mom (ashamedly before I had even managed to get out of bed on a lazy Wednesday morning) and her words echoed in my still-foggy brain. "June's gone.  She passed away last night." Sweet June . When I think of June, immediately I remember her husband, Jiggs.  (Because the names "Jiggs ...

This week, I sat and watched from almost 400 miles away as the news broke on social media and online news outlets that the ACLU was taking issue with my alma mater in Ohio.  Small-town America at it's finest, it's a place I hope to never regret growing up in and graduating from high school.   Since then, on more than one occasion, I've become angry. To explain briefly, SOMEONE complained.  SOMEONE didn't like that the district was having religious assemblies prior to Thanksgiving and Christmas. SOMEONE didn't like that the school district values "honesty and Christian values" as stated in the high school student handbook.  Of course, who this particular SOMEONE is will remain a mystery for now, because they get to maintain their anonymity while the ACLU sends letters and makes threats on their behalf. That angered me - because I don't do bullies.  Just ask any other education advocate in the state of New York right now.  We have one big b...

Yesterday I received a phone call a little before 1:00 pm.  The Caller ID simply gave the name of my kids' school district, so of course I answered it.  It turned out to be the single individual that most parents hate getting a call from in the middle of their day. The school nurse.  (Be real now, you cringe too when she calls, don't you?) Usually her phone calls are polite, friendly, "Hi Mrs. D., I have my Lil' Dude down here in my office and he says he's not feeling well."  Or..."Hi Mrs. D., I have the princess down here in my office and she's hurt herself in gym..."  You know, typical stuff. Yesterday, it was a call I had never received before... "Hi Mrs. D.  Ummm, I really need you to come and get Lil' Dude..." (Wait, don't I get to hear why first? Isn't there an option? Oh boy, this can't be good.) "He has lice." Nooooooooooooooo...... I'm owning my "stuff" here people.  Yes, it...

Three days before Christmas, and here I am with my teenager as he recovers from having a wisdom tooth removed. Yep.  A single wisdom tooth.  We both know it could be so much worse, but given that the teenager still has a mouth full of corrective metal (otherwise known as "orthodontia"), the surgeon suggested only removing the one tooth that could be counter-productive to the straightening process. So we've been preparing for today.  Planning the soft foods that he may want to eat when he's ready to attempt eating again.  Soup, applesauce, pudding, milkshakes, Jell-O... But for whatever reason, my kids have never taken to Jell-O.  It was the "go-to" food when I was sick as a kid, and it didn't matter what illness I was suffering from, gelatin was the cure.  The flu meant you got orange Jell-O  - because the red was just {ugh} when it came back up.  But if I was ailing with a non-regurgitating variety - like perhaps, a sore throat? Or one ...

We were responsible.  We were prepared.  We were ready. The cars were filled with gas.  I had gotten groceries just a few days prior.  I even had a plan of "family fun" for the monkey children.  We would bake cookies!  Play board games!  Build snowmen and snow forts and have snow ball fights! We're Buffalo.  This is what we're known for, and it's what we do.   It's Buffalo. It Snows. Deal with it. Right? Well maybe if you're not getting an entire season's worth of snow within a 3 day span! I'm sitting here midway through Day 3.  That's 3 days of snow falling.  A LOT of snow.  Where I live, the snow is higher than me.  (okay, I'm all of 5 foot 2 inches, every place has snowbanks higher than me.) There are travel bans all over - you know, IF you can actually dig your car out and drive somewhere.  Which you can't.  And if you do decide to be one of those few who make your way out i...