Half Way and Hard Parenting: Making Heroes (30/60)

My beach . . . and that cloud . . . isn't it amazing?

Half way through . . . and I feel like I am actually getting somewhere.

I know that I don't want to be a yoga instructor (right now).

I don't want to go back to school to teach high school (yet).

I would love to teach college creative writing classes, but I haven't done anything about it (yet).

I do feel like the Universe has something in store for me . . . I just need to be open and patient and willing and it will happen.

And I 'm glad I haven't found a job or been obligated to too much because I could be here for ten days with my mama.

And . . . I have a new novel hatching in my mind.  I am day dreaming it, sleeping it, eating it, and biking and running it.  I've decided that I will ask you all to help (if you want) and create another blog or something like it where you can read it and give feed back.  Even if no one reads it, at least I'll be creating it or feeling a wee bit of pressure to create it.

It's a YA story (of course . . . my area of expertise).  There is a girl, Gracey Darling, one of seven children . . . five older brothers, and one younger brother who is autistic.  And a boy.  I'm not sure exactly what his first name is, but his last name is Oz and his father has died quite quickly and tragically of cancer three years earlier and his mother is trying to move on.   Gracey has no idea that ??? exists (or so he thinks) but it doesn't matter.  He doesn't want her to know him. She is his escape, watching her move throughout her day at school . . .

And . . . I'm going to start writing tomorrow (maybe).

I was going to start today, but I have a stupid stupid bad headache that won't go away.  So I'm going to bed right now.

But I can't go without saying, in light of all the drama in the news, that I am sorry.  I am sorry for all of us to have to question and doubt the good in people and hear such sad things.

I don't know how it will all work out, but all day I've been thinking two things:  1) I wish that there were more honesty and openness so that people don't have to hold on to their hurts for so long and 2) I wish we could all be just a little less worried about our careers and political standing and a little more compassionate and embracing.

I wish we could hear, I believe you.  I'm sorry.  What can I do to help?

I know, it's my perfect world in my head, but I've decided that I want to incorporate these words into my life.  I want to teach them to my children.  If we all thought a bit more about others and less about ourselves, these things wouldn't happen so often.

And also, I am keenly aware of how stupid teenager are.  My own are in the thick of this and their stupidity knows no bounds.  Throw in drinking and drugs and hormones . . . oh Moses.  A cocktail of regret.

Let's teach our children control as far as possible. And when they do mess up (which they will), or do wrong, let us be the first to steer them right and make them accountable for their actions. It is the hardest thing ever, but we cannot let our children get away with bad behavior.  If we don't be parents now, and curb their appetites and refuse to cover up their mistakes, they will not learn.  And when they are grown up, they will continue to try and cover up and gloss over their mistakes.

We all make mistakes, some a bit more than others, and there is a long road the righting some wrongs, but it's not impossible.  In fact, it is empowering.  Saying sorry, admitting to mistakes, and being willing, with humility and remorse, to do all in your power to right the wrong . . . this is Leadership.  This is power.  This is the stuff that will change hearts, society and governments.  It is the stuff that heroes are made of.