It Takes A Village

So blessed to wake up to a smiling peaceful face, content to see ... just me.

The children, all still asleep in their beds with no place they need to rush off to, breathing deeply as the fresh cool air passes in through the open windows with a slight scent of the garden below.  I pause to take in the precious sight.  Was it just yesterday that I broke into a fearful cold sweat at the thought of having all three girls home for eighty-seven days straight?  

Children of today are different.  Their academics are more challenging, they are expected to study harder and for longer hours, they participate in sports with intense training that taxes their bodies, they hear about the extra curricular accomplishments they should add to their college applications, and are required to manage an array of newly developed electronic devices without acting on impulse or becoming obsessive.  Could an adult flourish in that environment?  So I remind myself once again ... children are still the same as they have always been ... children ... playful, peaceful ... little beings ... that we have the opportunity to help mold.  And, someday ... hopefully ... they will become well balanced productive young adults with a moral compass ... that is ... if we can keep the focus away and protect them “just enough” from all the ways in which their generation is different.

This school year has taught me more then ever that “It Takes A Village” (I don’t agree will all of Hillary Clinton’s ideals; but, for our family, she was dead on with that one!)  Our girls have had what I consider an extremely positive nine months, and I have a Village of people to thank for helping to make it so successive.  Thank you to the many teachers at Diablo Vista  who respectfully taught our girls and to counselor Jill and principal Rebecca who were calm and helpful when I brought up my concern about “too much homework”.  Thank you Coaches Don, Pete, Randy, Teresa, and Haley for creating fun practices that included life lessons as well as sport training. Thank you to Michaline and Janet at Venture for developing a custom independent study program for Christina which included classes at (how fun!) DVC and The Academy of Art University.  Thank you to Marcie ...  tutor, phycologist and to Karla for taking Christina under your wing so she could begin to live her Fashion Dream.  Thank you Kiran Koka for your direction.  Thank you Elizabeth for helping us hold it all together and “look” organized.  And, thank you to all our friends for your consistent love and support.  I am grateful for Our Village!