I had already gotten in the habit of skipping the 10 o'clock news because I live in a big dangerous city and well, it was just too depressing. I tend to absorb a lot of the world's feelings/emotions due to my capacity for empathy, etc.
Lately I've been flat out addicted to talk radio and CNN in my obsession with this year's presidential election. The problem is, in addition to the depressing reality of the economic recession, the sleaze of politicians, the ignorance of the masses, the display of hate, racism, close minded mob effects -
there's the rest of the news.
Two stories hit me HARD this week outside of the political realm.
The first one was about a female music teacher at a school who had a transgender operation over the summer and returned as a man. When the kids returned to find Ms. Patty was now Mr. Pat - (the face didn't change much and kids aren't stupid) - and nothing was said to them to prepare them - many of them went home freaked out. Many parents said something along the lines of “wow, we wish the school or teacher would have inform3ed us so we could discuss the hugely complicated and very adult issue with our kids as they return to school.” School Administration says “thanks to privacy acts and a very litigious society, we can’t discuss personal facts of teachers so we couldn’t”. Some parents pull kids b/c it’s just too complicated and heavy a subject they may not be ready to discuss with their children yet and I think that’s their right. I also GET the privacy issue – but this is not new teacher shows up and used to be the opposite sex is a transgender - this is the same teacher returned to the same school after making this choice and did not take it upon himself to discuss this with his students. This leaves a GIANT "elephant" in the classroom that what - the kids are supposed to initiate conversation over? The kids are supposed to just accept and not mention? I mean come on! This is you introduced a very adult subject to our kids w/out our knowledge and surely there is some responsibility as a teacher when you choose to make a decision like this and return to the same school. They can do it – but shouldn’t they own the decision and all that comes with it instead of presenting a giant elephant in the classroom that will confuse or freak out some kids – shouldn’t it be discussed b/c it is an absolute that it does indeed psychologically effect some kids and the parents have a right to decide if they want to deal with that with their kids at this time or not? No litigation – I don’t think the school should be sued, but I totally get the parent’s frustration and why some pulled their kids. I believe many would not necessarily have a problem that it’s a transgender so much as last year my kid knew you as Mrs. Patty and now you’re Mr. Pat and you never discussed it with the kids you interact with – don’t they deserve some communication about something so very real and heavy?
and then of course the week ends today with this incredibly fucking awful story
http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/10/17/nevada.boy.kidnapped/index.html
Suffice to say, in addition to the obvious horror of this story, and the fact I'm a Mommy, but remember, I've also lived as a child who had men dressed as policeman break down their door and restrain their parents. In my case, they were real policemen, and they were handcuffs and not rope - but it was still an experience I didn't need triggered - mixed with the horror that would ensue anyway from a story like this. This literally put me into an anxiety attack and tears for half the day.
God. The world can really suck.
Sooooo - the good news? The good news is tomorrow is Alex's 4th birthday party. :nod: Monday is his birthday and we've taken the day off to spend it with him. So for the next three days, I'm going to turn off CNN and enjoy my beautiful loving child and realize that my part of the world doesn't suck.
I hope yours doesn't either. :)
Mary
P.S. My dad from Oregon comes to meet Alex and Wuzza for the first time next weekend!!
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