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.