Stranger In The Park

Today my assistant and I took nine children under the age of five to catch tadpoles. We went to Forest Park and set out to capture tadpoles, in hopes we could watch them transform. Each child had a chance to cast their net into the water. All in all we collected four tadpoles, some river grass, a snail, some microscopic animals and a lily pad.

As we were walking back to our van, we stopped to see some tadpoles that a middle school class had found. The program is called ECOS and it is offered to students in hopes that ecology will be taught. Very popular in Springfield, most classes attend as their annual field trip. The lead ECOS teacher was sitting, keeping watch over the students' treasure and answering a million questions. He introduced himself and welcomed our children to peek at all the specimen. While we visited his classroom, he asked me about mine. I explained that I was a teacher and that I had opened an educational daycare when my twins were born. He continued to quiz me asking the children's ages, our location, our demographics and our curriculum. He was impressed that my class was so well behaved. He was taken with the fact that I took the children out of my home on a daily field trip. As we were leaving, he shook my hand and said, "Obviously teaching these kids is a true passion for you. No one would give this much of them self or work this hard if it was a job!"

All day I have been pondering his comment. Yes, I love my work. Yes, I love my kids. Yes, I work hard. Yes, teaching is my PASSION! I want each of my kids to be challenged from the beginning. I want them to gain as many experiences as they can before they are faced with the conformity of school. I want to be a memorable part of their happy childhoods. I want to sit back one day and realize that I dedicated my life to bettering the lives of children. Funny how a life time can be summed up by a stranger in the park.

Patriotism

As I decorated the outside of our home tonight, it occurred to me that there is something missing in today's society. I wondered how many people my age and younger even knew what Memorial Day was all about. I wondered if people even cared that so many Americans have lost their lives to ensure personal freedoms. Americans as a whole are so self-centered that I doubt many take the time to think of these fallen heroes and the families they left behind.

During WWII it seemed that every window on Main Street displayed some kind of Patriotic decorations. Homes flew American flags with pride and windows were adorned with soldier support. In today's world there are a few individuals like myself that take the time to decorate their homes. In general we rely on the city and town governments to put up flags in May and take them down in September. We assume that someone else will take care of the remembrance while we get a day off from work. The beaches will be packed no doubt...picnics will be had....The Unofficial Start of Summer! That's not what Memorial Day is about.

I was fortunate enough to grow up in a very patriotic family. My father, a Vietnam Veteran, educated us in the value of freedom and why so many people are willing to fight for it. My mother made sure that the flags were hung and the decorations displayed. Both took the time to take us to the Memorial Day Parade and explain to us the importance of remembrance. I try to follow in their footsteps and teach my children how wonderful America is and just how lucky we are to live here.

Tonight, I challenge anyone reading to set aside some time to talk to your children about Patriotism and the significance of Memorial Day. Spend a few dollars and purchase some flags....decorate the front porch of your home. Spend Monday with your family, find a local parade to watch....participate in town observances. Be Patriotic and make sure that future generations have an understanding of this great country and how it became that way. Freedom is not FREE....let them know it!