I still have a lot to learn

Last night was laughingly referred to as "girls gone wild" night at Vix's new home. We aren't wild so much as irreverent. We all hadn't seen each other in awhile due to traveling, moving, illness, new job, etc. Vix is a superb hostess and had an array of tastiness on hand for everyone's diet and palate. We dined by twinkly lites on the patio overlooking the lovely nightlights view. Wine was the usual tongue loosener and we shared gossip, fact and fiction as we are wont to do.
The new job we were all dying to hear about is with a successful and well-known company in town that, as she described it is, "almost surreal in their level of employee morale efforts" she regaled us with tales of the recent elaborate halloween contests and the pending hula lessons in prep for the company going to Hawaii in a few months. Wow! We just gasped at the concept that company mgmt would take their employees to Hawaii for vacation! New mommy was settling into her stay-at-home decision and adjusting accordingly but sometimes finds herself desperately missing the big people and stimulation.

My friends in this group all met thru work but we're all in different places, some left, some stay and survive (me!) some have gone on to find their dream job. But we all rally round each other and share our triumphs and our tragedies.

Our age range spans 20 years and a variety of professional, educational and ethnic backgrounds.

Some married, some not, some with grown kids, some with young children, some with no children. It's been one of the most rewarding friendships I've had in my life and I'm learning to take and give from these amazing and wise women who give as good as they get. I count them in my blessings always as they keep me real and connected to what's important. I consider them my teachers.
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This will probably get me in hot water with those that write so eloquently from the teacher view. I have to go to teachers conference next week and I am not looking forward to it. It just seems like the schools lately push too much on the kids because of the new educational edicts...state set goals for grade level. These are kids! They don't all learn at the same rate, they
are not "parts is parts." It just seems that these edicts were handed down to make sure johnny can read and add before he graduates...high school. I can appreciate that but focus on the kids that need that kind of intervention.

Most kids are successful in school and if they struggle here and there, that's normal too.

As long as we stay in touch we can help them through it. I feel like the teacher is oftentimes using this time to point out where my child is not fitting the cookie cutter mold at this moment in time and it would just make their lives so much easier if I took up the cause and coaxed my child into conforming.
Don't get me wrong, I have a tremendous appreciation and respect that teachers choose to lead and guide and teach children, but they are children, so don't be surprised when they act like a child! Teachers are the closest thing to saints in my book. I do my best to support them and the school because I know they often get short shrift. To me, education is one of the most important things you can give a child, right up there with love and acceptance. It will benefit them throughout their entire life. Which is why I'll go, and listen and ask. Besides my little guy gets the biggest kick out of knowing we went to his school and talked with his teacher because that makes him feel important and special. That alone is reason enough.