He said, “Are you Ms. Howard’s sister?”

“No” I replied. “I work here. I am here to help the teachers.”

He said, “So, you are here to give demerits?”

I sighed, “Yes, but once you have learned the rules I will have time to help you with your work.”

He paused and then went on…

He said,  “Do you like to trick-or-treat?”

I whispered back, “I’m a little old for that.”

He smiled, shook his head, and whispered again saying, “Nooo…I mean do you like giving candy to children at Halloween.”

I whispered back in my library voice, “Ooohhh YES, I look for children to give candy to on Halloween.”

He said (as if I had no idea what he was about to say), “That’s me! I love getting candy!”

I smiled and walked away.

So, who do you think got the demerit for “#32…not tracking the teacher” or “#21…talking out of turn?”

Neither of course…I had the clipboard. If you are going to break the rules, make sure you do it with the one in charge. It also helps if you are adorably honest and transparent when you do it. I can’t wait to make treat bags!!!

The first time I went in I pulled out my file of various documents to prove my identity only to be told that I needed my marriage license to tie my married name to my birth certificate (never mind that I had a current Indiana license).

A month later I returned with my marriage license and my file with various documents to prove my identity only to be told that the former name on my marriage license did not match my birth certificate…oops, forgot about my first marriage which lasted 3 months (never mind that I had a current Indiana drivers license).

Then today I went in with exactly what I needed except for the file with various documents to prove my identity. I had a passport, a current utility bill with my name on it, a major credit card, and my CURRENT INDIANA DRIVERS LICENSE, but I left my social security card at home in the file of various documents to prove my identity.

NO LICENSE FOR YOU…NEXT!

I remember how it felt when my son Aaron, now 17, used to kiss me when I would try to rock him to sleep. He would open his mouth wide push his lips on my face engulfing my entire mouth. Every kiss felt like he was attaching himself to my heart and holding on for dear life. His brown eyes sparkled and his tiny hands held my hair, while he slobbered and kissed until distracted by something else in the room.

When Aaron went to first grade, I started working. He had to adjust to that idea because he expected me to volunteer in his classroom just as I did for my other two children. It was a slow adjustment done mainly in the nurse’s office every day during lunch recess. His teacher, knowing that Aaron was trying to manipulate me, didn’t tell me until I went for a conference with her several months later. That evening at dinner, I asked him why he was going to the nurse’s office every day and he replied with a sigh saying, “She’s so nice.”

Aaron is my baby and he will leave home for college soon, leaving me behind for a new life in a world that is as unstable as snow on the sunny side of a mountain. There is panic in my heart when I think about all the difficult times that will come his way, so I pray. I pray that he will have faith in God. I pray that his faith will be strong enough to carry him through times when he is lonely or dejected, or exhausted and burned out from the intense pace of life as an adult. I pray that he will see beyond this life to a place where the sun never sets and there is no more pain, no more suffering, and no reason for tears. I pray that he will understand that if no one else in this world loves him that he can take comfort in the loving arms of God who delights in him.

Fortunately, the children have an opportunity to go to a school where the staff is committed to providing a safe environment and good role models. Hurray for people who care! The school wide discipline plan is based on a point system…earn points for good behavior and achievement/lose points for the opposite. It’s simple, so simple that I was thinking it would be fun to apply the point system to the presidential and vice presidential candidates. Here’s how it will work…

10 points earned for a commercial that states what the candidate WILL do.

10 point lost for a commercial that states what the opponent will NOT do.

10 points earned for being nice. (e.g. Obama told his supporters to lay off the Palin teen pregnancy issue)

10 points lost for for being sarcastic. (e.g. Sarah Palin’s remark about Obama’s community service.)

…and so on. Get it?

Keeping in mind the motto is “WORK HARD, BE NICE”, help me rate the candidates. Let’s see if they can live up to expectations of the teachers and students who are looking to them for leadership.

This is absolute insanity…” Duff’s blog

Thank you Duff for listening to Sarah Palin, you ( a real man) have done something that many (so called) women have not. I am blown away at the outcry against her based on her family responsibilities! After all these years of women fighting for the right to choose a career outside of the home I am offended that WOMEN are harpooning her for making that choice. I chose to stay home with my children and I am so glad that I did, but that was MY choice. I think it is incredibly hypocritical for feminists to criticize her for choosing to pursue a career, especially one that holds so much promise. (interesting article here)

I do agree with you Duff, I think McCaine/Palin are on the wrong track with their aggressive ideas, but aren’t you glad that you are hearing them now when you have a chance to choose your candidates?

I want a leader who will use the office of President to encourage Americans to be kind and thoughtful of others regardless of political, religious, or any other differences. I want a President who will remember that children and grown ups are listening to and watching everything he/she says and does. I want a President who understands that roughly 50% of Americans did not vote for her/him (they deserve to be respected and taken seriously).

There is a reason for the political polarization  in this country. I believe we have forgotten how to be respectful. This land is OUR land, not mine, not yours, and for my Christian friends…this land and all the Earth belong to God irrespective of borders and governments. You will answer to Him for how you treat your neighbors near and far.