Another DIFFERENT Mom

This is post is inspired by Marci's "confessions" of being different. My differences have nothing to do with what we eat (although I know I should cut out partially hydrogenated soybean oils, high frutose corn syrup, and aspartame) or the vaccines my children receive. But I'm different because I stand up for things I feel are so important, I can't not stand up and be counted.

Noah's preschool teacher sings a welcome song every morning with the children. Parents are required to serve in the classroom once a month so in September at my first in class day, I was both shocked and appalled to find that the song contained lyrics promoting homosexuality. While I am not a bigot, I do believe that there is no place at school to talk about sexual orientation, especially with 3 & 4 year olds. And thus the battle begins! At the end of the day, I pulled his teacher aside and voiced my concern only to be brushed away. My husband decided he would take Noah into school one day to hear it himself. He too voiced his concern and the teacher's solution was that we bring our son late to school everyday. And so Noah became the "tardy" boy, I became the "lazy" mother, and the teacher continued preaching to an audience that had no voice on the matter. I quickly approached people in other schools to hear their opinions, spoke with my friends, all of whom were willing to sit on the fence ("it's not hurting anyone"). I began to realize that I would be a lone voice. I contacted the principal, escalated the issue to the school board, the early education administrator, and Superintendent. On every front, it was rationalized and reasoned away. Alas, the fight goes on without an exceptable resolution. I have been so tempted to give up since it seems like a lost cause. I know that my Father in Heaven is proud of me for being "steadfast & immmovable".

I think I shall have renewed confidence now that school is back in session and I've had all of Winter Break to think about a point for my case. In December, my son's class made no mention of Christmas, they don't celebrate birthdays or any other holiday because there is one sweet girl in the class that is a Jehovah's Witness. And while I wouldn't want anyone to feel left out, my son is left out for our beliefs while we also ignore normal celebratory events because of one other person. I think I will bring this into my argument. It hardly seems fair to cater so willingly to one student's beliefs and not another's. OK, enough of my soapbox. But I do feel better about throwing this out there and gaining new perspective on being different. Thank you Marci.

Same stuff, different day...

So another year is gone and I can't think of very many significant events that happened but I guess that's how life goes. Same stuff, different day. And we go around and around.

The Sunday before Christmas, I had every intention of blogging but ended up in the ER with Noah for the 2nd time in two days. After 6 x-rays, two consecutive days in Emergency rooms, we found out that he had fractured his collarbone. If you've never taken your kid to the ER then you have no idea how uncomfortable it is to be sitting there. And living in California, I am terrified that CPS is going to show up any moment. Anyway, last November Noah fractured his right humerous, now his clavicle. I can't wait till next year to see what happens. Having three boys has made me be very hands off and I let them mostly work things out themselves and I don't pay attention to crying unless its particularly frantic or if its right in my face. My kids know that if they are really hurt and need Mom's attention, they'll have to bring it to me. So Saturday afternoon, I'm wrapping Christmas presents in the bedroom when I hear a small cry, as usual, I ignore it. We have lunch, get ready for naps and then Noah mentions that his arm is hurting and I notice he's holding his right arm funny. I send him to bed for naptime, head to the store to make a return. An hour later, I get a call from Seth saying I need to get home to take Noah into the ER, his arm is definitely broken. Anyway, this is getting long, after waiting forever, they x-ray his arm and shoulder and decide he must have sprained his shoulder, nothing they can do, send us home. That night while getting Noah dressed for bed he is screamin in pain and I notice his neck is swollen and he has a funny looking bump off his collarbone. Since I was teaching the combined lesson in YW the very next morning, I decide I'll take him in again once church is out. This time I go in and tell them they need to x-ray the right part. Lo and behold, it's fractured. The best part....Ma'am, there's nothing we can do about it. Just be careful. Off to home. I love doctors and how helpful they are.

Onto something more upbeat, we have a trampoline now and I LOVE it! The kids go out there everyday and when naptime rolls around they are out like a light. Thanks Boppy for the great Christmas present. I stand by the fact that every Mom needs one.

Yesterday was exciting, we had near hurricane weather here in Sacramento! It was crazy! Our fence blew down, tons of trees were uprooted, cars were flipped over, roofs gone off houses and over a million people lost power. My kids have a new appreciation for electricity now. And now Noah is very interested in the news and weather report.

Hope everyone's new year is off to a good start and that you had wonderful holidays!