Where's the values?

I am finding it hard to be a parent these days. It is frustrating to me to fight so hard to keep "the world" away from my little family. I am so not a perfect parent, but I don't need any help from outside forces to mess up my kids. I will do it all by myself, thank you very much.

I feel the need to rant. At dinner last night, that hubby graciously offered to cook at Jack in the Box after I had run late fitting high school band uniforms, our kids let us in on aspects of their daily lives we don't see. Courtney has been practicing with the color guard for their performance tonight at the football game. As they were working out the details for the uniforms, she realized she would, once again, be the only girl wearing a sleeve under her costume. One of the other girls didn't like that she would look different from everyone else and asked her if it was against her religion to not wear the costume the way it was "meant" to be worn. My mommy heart grew three sizes when she said. "No, I don't feel comfortable showing that much skin."

I haven't seen the color guard uniforms, I don't know what they look like. She didn't use the "My mom won't let me" and I was pleased. I am frustrated that she has to defend herself in choosing the right!

Maddy is thirteen years old. Yesterday, she brought home a paper from her science teacher asking permission to watch an unedited rated R movie. She explained in the paper, the movie taught the concept she was trying to teach. What! We don't even watch unedited PG-13 movies in our home! I was shocked this teacher was bold enough to even ask, and more disappointed in the parents who don't have a problem with their children being exposed to so much so young. If this is what is happening now, I don't want to think about what will be surrounding my grand kids.

I know we are taught to "be in the world, not of the world", but why does the world have to make it so difficult?!

First days of School

The obligatory first day of school pictures.

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School started this week, and it has been very quiet around here. It is time to start working on all the finish projects I have been putting off all summer. I have doors to paint, trim to caulk, nail holes to fill, a basement to Sheetrock, underground sprinklers to put in, seed to plant, landscaping to do....(O.K. when I say I, I mean mostly not me;)) But I will do the painting and am a bit excited to see the smudged doors with a fresh coat of shiny white paint.

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While I am working, I am sure my mind will think often on my kids. They are growing and changing so fast. I feel like I just barely took Kenna to Kindergarten last year, and here she is starting 4th grade! She has a great teacher and makes friends easily. (Perhaps she is too friendly, she admitted to me that she got in trouble for talking.)

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Maddy is in eight grade and in full volleyball mode. She loves to play, and she loves her new long socks she wears to practice. I am looking forward to her games. I wonder what they will be like compared to last year. (Maybe this year, my prayers will help get her serves over the net.)

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Chiawana High School. For months and months, I have heard from my oldest daughter what an awful place this was going to be. Courtney has a tight group of friends. They are a good group of good girls. All of them will be attending Pasco High, because of the ridiculous boundaries the district has decided on. As a junior in High School she started this new school with no close friends. She has come to accept it. She always has a smile when I pick her up. She is trying to make new friends. Seminary has been her sanctuary. There are times when I wish I had a magic wand to make things perfect. The problem is, my idea of perfect and her idea of perfect may not be what is best for her.

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So tonight, this flag-twirling, half-time performing, purple bleeding girl; will be sitting in the stadium at Edgar Brown, cheering on her best friends at their first football game of the season.