If there is one thing that gets me in a cathartic-writing mood, it's intense emotions. Steams a'blowin' - gotta write.
It's December 17th, eight days from Christmas. The assumption may be 'the season of believing' pertains to Santa Claus, or hopefully, the birth of Jesus. Not so. Not this time.
Every parent wants to believe in their child. Every parent wants to believe their child. There is a difference; the first implies believing in the child's ability to succeed, to achieve, to attain their goals. The second is having confidence in their child - that their child is faithful, sincere, true, honest. Honest. That they're telling the truth when it really matters. Ah, the meat of the matter. Can you believe they are telling the truth?
My son had a difficult school year last year. He often came home from school upset because he felt he was being picked on - bullied is the common catch phrase. It happened a lot. I know kids can
embellish stories - mine included - and there was always a bit of
skepticism on my part - how much of what he was telling me was spot on and how much
was....not? On one side, I wanted him to toughen up. On the other, "momma bear" protective instincts kicked in and I wanted to wring the little brats' necks.
The new school year came and a new combination class with it - different person(alitie)s to deal with. The "Be a Buddy,
not a Bully" poster showed up at the end of the hallway and
being a Character Counts school promotes positive, idealistic traits. Things had been going relatively smoothly until recently. I would occasionally hear about so-and-so saying or doing this or that; nothing was serious enough to catch my attention until this week. The report was a couple of boys tried to trip my son. When one succeeded and my son said he hit his head on the concrete and his teacher sent him to the office to make sure he was okay - well, that caught my attention. The further accounting included additional physical contact. Clearly, that's not okay.
I repeatedly asked to confirm the story. Did he provoke any of this? Was he sure about all this? I'll go to bat for my kids any day of the week - but I also want to make sure I'm doing so legitimately. He assured me it was all true. And as his mother, I acted in a season of believing.
Our small community and small school are great assets on many levels; you know your neighbors, you watch out for each other and their kids - something not many city-dwellers can claim - and the kids very nearly get a one-on-one education.
The flip-side, however, is your choice of friends is enormously limited, whether you're a kid or an adult. And if there is any sort of contention, your choices are drastically reduced. It can suck. And when someone you regarded a friend calls your son a liar, your world shrinks that much more.
I have loved where we live, for so many reasons. But right now, I don't like it at all. I know there is no perfection in this world - in people, in places, in practice. I do not believe the grass is greener on the other side but if there is any moment I'd like to find out, it is now.
