Party of Five

*** The following post represents MY personal thoughts, and should not be considered as representative of any unit, group, or association. I am a PTA member.    That makes me a member of my local unit, my Regional PTA, the New York State PTA, and also the National PTA.  I've been  a member for eight years, and seven of those years have been spent volunteering as an officer in my local unit.  That's right, I jumped in head-first and never looked back.  I don't remember why I felt such an urge to join...I had heard rumblings and rumors trying to sway me away from becoming a part of this group, but I knew that I wanted to be involved with what my three monkey children were doing...really involved. So I took the plunge and dove right in. Today, however, public education is an entirely different animal, and I am a completely different PTA member than who I was when I first started on this journey many years ago.  Eight years ago, the Common Core didn't ...

A six-hour drive to Michigan, and tonight the monkey children are all nestled and snug in their...air mattresses, as visions of sugarplums dance in their heads.  Actually, it's probably dreams of Lego Dimensions, Nerf guns, and One Direction CD's.  But dreams and innocence of a child nonetheless. As we drove down the road, arriving at my mother's house for the holiday season, the glow of her Christmas tree was visible as we pulled into the driveway.  It's not the family home that I was returning to, but just the same, that glow of lights through the window was enough to make me smile and break into song, "There's no place like home for the holidays". This Christmas I know and appreciate so very much the love of my family around me. I have a full holiday planned with my mother, brother, and grandparents.  Family members that I love but cannot see or spend time with except for the few times of the year that we make this return trip "home." ...

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...