One month to go- even though Katy has been away from home working at Calumet, she won't really be gone until August 30th when we leave her in her dorm room. Right now I can still get to her quickly if she needs me. By September it won't be so easy. It will all be good though - she is more than ready and while I will miss her, I'm ready to sit back and watch her discover her path. It will be an exciting one for sure. She will get hurt and lost. She will make mistakes and bad choices. She will also have lots of fun, discover amazing things about herself and others, and change the world. Just like her brother before her, she will manage just fine without me and her dad.
I know this. She has learned most of her lessons well and is eager to learn more.
She also knows we are here when and if she needs us.
We are lucky. She has a strong network of friends and family. We are educated, have lots of skills and are part of a faith community which has helped us raise our children within a moral framework based on loving and caring for each other and the world.
What about those children and families who don't have what we do? Like baby birds that get pushed out of the nest too soon, too many children have no safety net. No one is there to catch them. I see more and more out in the world where instead of supporting and helping children and families who are struggling, our culture judges them. We make assumptions about families who make difficult and sometimes wrong choices. We blame desperate people who send their children to the "land of opportunity", for taking resources that are "ours."
When basic needs are not being met, we cannot focus on anything else. Children who are hungry cannot learn. Parents who cannot feed, shelter or clothe their children adequately cannot focus on "bettering themselves or their situation."
Desperate people do desperate things. What if, instead of catering to big business etc. our politicians and decision makers put some time, energy and resources to addressing the desperate circumstances people find themselves in. Just maybe if we cared for others instead of just ourselves, the world would be a kinder, more peaceful place. Maybe some people just don't care.
Judging, punishing, criticizing and berating people DOES NOT HELP THEM LEARN HOW TO DO IT DIFFERENTLY. It teaches them that no matter what they do they will be judged, punished, criticized and berated. We have to find a different way.
I know this. She has learned most of her lessons well and is eager to learn more.
She also knows we are here when and if she needs us.
We are lucky. She has a strong network of friends and family. We are educated, have lots of skills and are part of a faith community which has helped us raise our children within a moral framework based on loving and caring for each other and the world.
What about those children and families who don't have what we do? Like baby birds that get pushed out of the nest too soon, too many children have no safety net. No one is there to catch them. I see more and more out in the world where instead of supporting and helping children and families who are struggling, our culture judges them. We make assumptions about families who make difficult and sometimes wrong choices. We blame desperate people who send their children to the "land of opportunity", for taking resources that are "ours."
When basic needs are not being met, we cannot focus on anything else. Children who are hungry cannot learn. Parents who cannot feed, shelter or clothe their children adequately cannot focus on "bettering themselves or their situation."
Desperate people do desperate things. What if, instead of catering to big business etc. our politicians and decision makers put some time, energy and resources to addressing the desperate circumstances people find themselves in. Just maybe if we cared for others instead of just ourselves, the world would be a kinder, more peaceful place. Maybe some people just don't care.
Judging, punishing, criticizing and berating people DOES NOT HELP THEM LEARN HOW TO DO IT DIFFERENTLY. It teaches them that no matter what they do they will be judged, punished, criticized and berated. We have to find a different way.
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