Fun Facts About School This Year

Fun Facts About School This Year

Warning: If you’re sensitive and hyper over protective as a parent some of my views might offend you. But I hope what I’ve written makes you THINK.

My kids are in high school, a senior and a freshman. It is a great school and I’m impressed with the administration and the teachers.

High School students are finding unique and creative ways to make money this year. For only $15 you can get body piercings. A creative young lady has all of the right equipment and will pierce you in places your parents will never see. She has a lighter to sterilize the needles.

A talented young artist gives tattoos in his garage for $20. His drawings are better than his tattoos, but hey, when he is famous you can hold out those blown out lines on our arm and say, “see the famous guy did that.” His parents have no idea he is doing this.

Kids from another school, the wealthiest school in the district, are the go-to ones for all sorts of drugs. I’m not talking pot and meth. I’m talking birth control pills and birth control patches. Honestly it just shows how sorry assed our society is that girls have to get birth control pills on the black market. They should be able to get them in stores without prescriptions. Don’t argue with me on this one and I’ll remove any comments that disagree with me. A lot of the kids who are selling prescription drugs, be it birth control pills or painkillers, and have parents in the medical industry so they have access to all kinds of good stuff.

There is a super buff kid (aged 16) who everyone, including his teachers (who call him on it), thinks he is taking steroids, because no 16 year old can naturally look like he does. And the kid won’t try out for any sports teams because he’d be totally busted. That is a dangerous situation and I wonder where his parents are? What sort of sick and twisted person would supply a teen with steroids?

And if you want to know what we (my husband and I) are going to do with this information. Nothing. We’re not going to call the school or get all upset about it (or as our kids would say “get all butt hurt about it.”)  I’m just proud that our kids talk to us about this stuff and tell us everything that goes on. They can trust us to listen and discuss issues rather than just sit back and judge. Honesty, if I’m upset about this then I just need to talk to friends of mine who went there in the 1970’s when they had smoking areas for the students and teachers got stoned at lunch. Times have changed…for the better over all.

The school has a unique culture in that students accept each other. Sure there will be an occasional scuffle, but kids are nice to each other, or at least ignore each other rather than bullying.

Nobody bothers the kid with the green hair who dresses really weird. The school culture doesn’t allow that. There just aren’t those kinds of bullies. I’m proud to say my kids go to a school where it is safe to allow your freak flag to fly high and proud.

Some kids are openly gay. And nobody cares.

Sure there are snobs but nobody gives them the time of day except for their few minions. The minions will get tired of the game by the end of the school year.

Sure there is pressure about sex, drugs and alcohol. A lot of pressure. My daughter told me that the group of kids she hangs out with kids who aren’t obsessed with those three items. It has nothing to do with religion. None of them are religious. It is just the way they were brought up. They talk to their parents and discuss these things with them. And they aren’t followers. They might not all be leaders, but none are followers. And they have so many other interests to occupy their time (not to mention homework and trying to get good grades.)

My son is pretty much the same, but since he is older his point of view is a little different at least when it comes to girls and yes, that makes me uncomfortable, but he talks to me about it and he talks to his dad. A little. But at least he talks.

I believe in the public schools, especially the large high schools. kids learn to deal with all kinds of situations and choices. There will come a time when we can’t make choices for them. They have to learn on their own. They have to learn how to deal with people who are different. They need to be away from their parents and be allowed to grow those wings and grow their minds in directions we can’t even imagine. It is scary yes, but it is a good thing. Believe me on this one.

I trust the good teachers will guide them, in fact, I know they will. They already have talked to them about smoking all sorts of things at school, making stupid choices and consequences. It is up to the kids and their parents now to deal with those choices.

The graduation rate at their school is exceptionally high, the rate of kids going to college is exceptionally high and the test scores (I believe) are just about the highest in the area. I can’t complain. I feel damn lucky to have my kids going there. I challenge any private school in the area to give the kids a better education. I know it sounds like a fairy tale but it is true! I’m proud of the kids, the parents and the teachers and administrators for making this possible. It doesn’t just happen by accident.

 And NO it isn’t all perfect, but what is? Nothing in the world is perfect except a tiny new born baby or maybe a kitten or a really nice bottle of red wine… but please, nothing is perfect, but a lot in this world, despite the news, is good. Really good.

I know, to some I might seem lax, but like I said, my kids talk to me and tell me everything. Their friends tell me things too.  Listen first, then discuss and try not to judge. I’m not lax. Parenting is a lot of work. Keeping your kids in line and teaching them to be smart about life is a lot of work.

And for heaven’s sake don’t yell (save that for all of that frustrating math homework).

So that’s it for the wonderful world of parenting… no Vampire teen specific stuff today, it applies to everyone.

 So your homework assignment: Talk to your kids. Let them know they can trust you. Listen to them before judging (be if your kids, nieces and nephews or grand kids or young friends.)

~ Juliette aka Vampire Maman