Author Archives: ramblingsofaperforatedmind

Your Own Fault

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I remember when I was a junior or senior in high school, a graduate of my school wrote a letter to the school board. S/he complained about not being sufficiently prepared for college at the time of graduation.

At first, I felt afraid that I would not be ready for college either, but then I really thought about it. I felt like I was learning in all my classes. I had to work harder to achieve in some classes than others, but I did well. Math was my hardest class, but I still made it through with the basics I needed to move on. That’s when I decided that the author of that letter probably didn’t apply him/herself to studying. I believe you get out what you put into things.

Teachers spend a lot of time trying to teach students. Students spend a lot of time trying to avoid learning much, but they still cry and whine when they don’t have an A or a B in their classes. If students want to do well, they must learn enough to “pass.”

Students, if you have trouble in a class, go for extra help. Teachers are more than willing to spend the time it takes for you to understand a concept. If sports practices are more important to you than your grades, go practice. Just don’t be mad when you discover YOU had your priorities all confused. Don’t whine and beg for extra credit. Extra credit implies that you have done all you can to achieve and are still not doing well. If you have missing assignments, don’t cry to the teacher for bonus points. It’s not fair to the other students who work as hard as possible on a daily basis.

I have seen a few kids breeze through high school without studying much. Many do well in college, but a few of those students actually have to STUDY to succeed in the university. It’s not a bad thing! Saying it’s “too hard” and giving up—those are bad things. If it were super easy, anyone could and would do it!

The goal of education is to challenge young minds to think and solve problems. If every student had 100% in every class, it would imply that the curriculum may not be challenging enough. That’s not education.

Parents, try not to pressure your kids to get 100% all the time. It is NOT a reasonable expectation. Many times, it can backfire. Let your kids learn and have the freedom to fail once in a while. Only then will your children understand the value of the lessons.

Slipping a Gear

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Wow…..here I am, blogging and having coffee, at 5:30 a.m. I wish I could truthfully say it’s my special writing routine to be on the computer at this hour. We call it the butt crack of dawn, by the way. Alas, it was an error on my part (that has never happened before!). I figured I had to do laundry this morning since I’m off next weekend for fire school. I didn’t actually eyeball the schedule on the kitchen counter. Anyway, I “bounced” out of bed a bit after four, put the pups out (and back in) and hopped joyfully (?) into the shower. I remember thinking, “Oh, I wish I could sleep in this morning!”

Note to readers: When I say “bounce,” what really happens is I ricochet off the bed to the floor and stagger to the bathroom.

I walked across the street to work and met the other laundry gal coming from the other direction. We discussed the merits of sleeping in and went downstairs to check the schedule. I was pleasantly surprised. I AM OFF THIS WEEKEND! Oh, JOY! I got a couple of loads washing while she clocked in, we chatted a minute or two and Big Momma came home…..to climb into pajamas again, fix coffee, check the weather channel and blog. I should be snuggled in bed with the pups. They agree if the accusing looks I’ve been getting are any indication.

I have now reached the conclusion that Big Momma has slipped a gear. So be it. At least I will be reasonably rested when Monday rolls around!

If I Were President…

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I would make the following effective immediately:

* Close the borders indefinitely until some of the mess the country’s in could be sorted out
* Mandatory show of ID for voting or receipt of welfare benefits
* Drug testing for recipients of welfare
* Mandatory job training for recipients of welfare
* Suspend aid to foreign countries
* Six months to get legal or get deported
* Develop incentives for small businesses, especially green companies
* Hire Donald Trump and Dave Ramsey to help reduce the deficit
* Eliminate all non-essential government positions
* Give notice to former presidents that they will now pay for their own body guards, etc.
* Dismantle Obamacare
* Seek and support niche markets that focus on helping veterans
* Give teachers the power to influence education without selling out to textbook and testing companies

These are just a few ideas that would help get the United States back on track. I would accept office for only one term and get a job when I was finished. Public servants work for the average American; we, the people, do NOT work for them. Common sense is no longer so common.

Analyze This

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Dad and I were in a large parking lot with some buildings around, cars all over. He was looking for his truck, and I was trying to find my car. We split up in hopes of finding both vehicles. As soon as Dad was out of sight, I found myself inside one of the buildings, kidnapped. A Spanish-speaking lady and her daughter were cowering in the corner with me. There were a few dangerous looking Spanish-speaking men with knives guarding us. I knew there had to be other people somewhere on the premises. I wondered if Dad had found his truck and escaped. I knew I had to find my daughter immediately. I spoke to the lady quietly to avoid attention, asked how old her girl was. I was concerned about us all being assaulted, so I told the 12-year-old girl no matter what happened, survival was the most important thing.

I was allowed to go to the bathroom, which was through another room up some stairs. From there, I was somehow in a barracks-like structure. There were bunk beds in rows. My daughter was napping on the bottom bunk of one of them, so I woke her quietly and made sure she was fine. The funny thing was that her hair was shorter than it is now. Judging by that, her age must have been about 10 or 11.

I woke up with my heart pounding. My mind was working on a solution to get us out of there safely. I remember thinking I would hope the other woman and her daughter could escape with us, but my brain said I could trust no one. We could be betrayed if one of the thugs threatened her child and she could save her by telling our escape plan.

Analysis, anyone?

Dancing or Dancing Around the Truth?

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Dear Parents,

This is last thing I wanted to write on a Saturday night, but I had an eye-opening experience and would like to ask you some questions.

Have you ever listened to your child’s iPod playlist? You should. You might be (unpleasantly) surprised by what you hear. If you think you shouldn’t “invade little Billy’s privacy,” think again. Anything in your home falls under your jurisdiction.

Have you ever driven around town while your child is supposed to be at a dance or church meeting? You should. You might be surprised by who you see and where.

Do you verify your child’s story? You should. Sometimes a child will say enough to allow a parent to jump to an erroneous conclusion. The child can then say, “But I didn’t lie!” A deliberate omission is just as bad as an outright lie.

I came home and asked my own child some very pointed questions. I got some enlightening answers. Maybe you should do the same.

Sincerely,
A fellow parent