Why I wanted to read the speech before my kid heard it.

Should President Obama address the nation's students during the middle of a heated health care debate that has divided much of the country?  Well, how about President Bush addressing the nation's students on the verge of entering the war in Iraq?  Do you think democrats would worry Bush would maybe mention patriotism?  Ya think Republicans are worried Obama will mention social obligations?  Timing is everything and now might not be the best time to put the president in our kid's classrooms when many parents are so angry over purposed social programs.  However, the President of the United States should be able to speak to the country's kids.  There is nothing wrong or anti American with encouraging students to work hard in school.  There is also nothing wrong in this country with a parent choosing to not let their child participate in a school event that they feel is inappropriate.  So let parents read the speech and then make a choice.  Well, I read the speech and it was very good.  President Obama gave an encouraging, positive speech that in my opinion every American should hear.  But for the record, I was worried and will preview anything our government wants to share with my children.  Not every politician shares my morals and beliefs and that is why this country is great.  We can be different and still strive to do what's right.  Lets hope we don't forget how to respect each other when we disagree.

As an educator this happens to be the week that is slammed with back to school preparation.   I happen to be an administrator and have dozens if not hundreds of things to do to get ready for the new school year.  I am a 10 month employee but have tried to get back to school before I have to officailly return in order to get ahead of the game.  So it is stunning to me that I sit here typing from over 400 miles away from the school where I work.  This week has been planned.  I have a routine this week.  It has been the same for the last 14 years of my life, get ready for the new school year.  Well this year life had different plans.  Part of my families routine this time of year is to drop my two daughters off with their grandmother in Georgia so mom and dad can go to school and work for the week.  Grammy brings our kids back to us in North Carolina in time for them to go to school next week.  Well the first part of that plan worked great.  Kids dropped off, we drove back home.  On our drive back to North Carolina my mother called to tell me some horrible news that my father and her were experiencing where they live in New Jersey.  My mother's dog of 12 years had to be put to sleep suddenly.  It had rocked their day and my mother was devestated.  I know what your thinking.  No, we didn't drive to New Jersey for my mother's dog's funneral.  While I am a huge animal lover and own 2 dogs myself and shared in my mother's grief, I was not going to alter my plans for school preparation.  I didn't realize it at the time but my mother and father's lives had changed all in one day.  Losing their loving dalmation had rearranged their very normal retired lifestyle.  It was in two days that mine would be altered.  After working for 2 days at school my wife received a call from Grammy.  Remember, the grandmother that we left our girls with in Georgia.  She called to tell us their had been an accident.  My heart froze and in an instant the fear of losing my children flashed before me.  It is a moment like that, that will remind you that you have such little control over life.  My girls were fine.  It was my wife's brother that was in a car accident.  He lives near Grammy and he was hurt.  Luckily his injuries were not life threating but they were serious enough that we immediately got in the car and drove right back down to Georgia.  Being there for family is always the right thing to do and now we had to go pick up our children.  Last night we visited my wife's brother in the hospital.  He has lots of broken bones and is pretty damaged.  He is married and supports himself through a yard and landscaping business.  With 2 broken shoulders his life has now been changed in 1 day.  As a family we will pull together and he will get through this.  We will get back on the road tomorrow and be back to our routine. God willing life won't thow us any curve balls for awhile.  What a differance a day can make! 

Government bailouts and now Healthcare reform - two solutions to help solve America's problems.  Banks are failing for giving bad mortgages.  Throw em some cash.  Car dealers losing money since the price of filling up your tank is the same as a nice evening out on the town with your family.  Throw em some cash.  Now, 40 million Americans without health insurance for many different reasons.  Let's give em some!  Wow, is this a utopia or what?  Lets see if I can apply this same logic being used by our very government to my parenting skills.  My daughter gets in trouble for not completing her homework since she forgot her math book.  So, I call the teacher and tell her let my daughter slide and give her another math book to keep at home just incase she forgets it again.  My daughter doesn't do her chores and expects her allowance.  I do her chores for her and pay her anyway.  I bet she will really learn something!  At what point did this country stop working for things?  Why is there always an excuse and some bleeding heart waiting to give someone another chance.  I must be a terrible father for making my kids work for the grades they get and if they forget homework they suffer a consequence.  If they fail, they pick themselves up and try again.  Learn from the mistakes and try harder next time.  The problem is today's society seems like they want to work less and receive more.  The people I know who work hard are able to pay their bills and have health insurance.  It doesn't matter that any person in this country, even if you are here illegally, has the opportunity to work and receive an education.  Too many people today just want something for nothing.  Including health insurance.  Since when did being healthy become the responsibility of the government?  Quality health care is available everywhere in this country.  Sure it's expensive.  You want it - work for it!  Don't vote a politician into office thinking that they will give it to you.  What's next?  How bout the government being on top of how good I look.  Why not?  No American deserves to be ugly.  The government should pay for nice clothes and some plastic surgery.  Let's pretend for a moment that this country was built by people who had nothing, worked hard and achieved success.  I wonder what that country would look like.  Wait a minute.  That is the life I am living.  I hope and pray that the millions out there like myself don't cave to the lazy entitlement crowd that seems to have credibility today.  Those hard working Americans have way too much to lose.  That's the great thing about working for something, you care about it.  Even if it happens to be a gas guzzling truck or crappy health insurance.  It's yours cause you worked for it!