Thursday Tidbits

Just a little peek into what's on a Princesses mind this week.

NASCAR Bus Racing?: I had a school bus blow by me yesterday here in town. Since I was already approaching 9 miles over the speed limit, and the fact that they cut me off in order to get back into the lane, I was a little ticked. After all, this person is in charge of safely transporting children. If I had been able to see which school it was from I think I would have called and reported them. Too bad school buses don't have that 'How am I driving' number on the back, huh? Maybe that's why so many parents I know take their kids to school?

How many Glass Slippers are there? :My daughter wrote a post on the fleeting nature of love and relationships. She tends to be a bit pessimistic on the subject right now, as she puts it. I guess being fresh out of a long term relationship can do that to you. She sent it to me, well, because I'm her mom and a pretty good editor. This was my response to her: Brava! it takes bravery to put exactly what you're thinking and feeling into words and here you've done just that. And although there may be a few small points that I don't concur with, they are insignificant to the fact that generally I am in total agreement with your assessment of 'love' and 'relationships'.  And I have another point in this entire merry-go-round of love and commitment to add.  At 44, I am no where near the same person I was at 24, or even 34. In fact, I'm not even the same person as I was at 43. Changes within my life give me new perspectives on exactly what it is I want and need in order to feel fulfilled. As a psych major I'm sure you'd tell me that is normal. So if it's so normal for me to be an entirely different person than I was twenty years ago, how can we expect our relationships with a significant other to continue to be 'right' for either party?  Sure, a very small percentage of relationships grow with the individuals and end up still fitting. But for the majority of us, it's like trying to fit into a glass slipper that just won't fit. If more people saw the foolishness of thinking we could be 'content and fulfilled' by just one relationship for our entire lives, perhaps there would be less depression and unhappiness. We should all live by the creed; Carpe Diem!!

With that said...I'm still looking for the glass slipper that fits.... I guess princesses are just hopeless romantics.

Sex and the Sixth Grader: This whole birth control in the middle school thing that's taking place in Portland. Look, I'm generally a really open minded girl when it comes to human sexuality. I believe strongly that no matter what parents may think, their little angels are going to have sex. And very, very few of them...I'm talking miniscule percentage here...will wait until marriage.  I don't care if you brought them up in a bible thumping church or threatened them with homelessness should the act occur. Pre-marital sex has been happening since creation (I didn't read about any marriage ceremony for Adam and Eve, did you?), get over your holier than thou thing and be realistic. And if you're being realistic, make sure your kids know the importance of safe sex. Not just how not to get pregnant. There are worse things. That said, I do not believe it is the job of the school to dispense birth control. I understand the reasoning, but it is all kinds of wrong for an institution of learning to provide prescriptions of a medical nature to children. I understand that no matter what, there are plenty of parents out there in blinders that will never be party to getting birth control for their children. Morons though they may be, it is their child. Would the school even consider giving out the HPV vaccine?  I should hope not. I understand that we live in a 'Super Wal-mart' society where we all want one stop shopping. Get your gas, groceries, medicines, dog food and anything else you might need all in one place. Hey, I love it too. But schools can't be the same way. Teach our children. Give them information if you want (even on where they can get birth control), but draw the line at actually doing the job of the parents.