Tuesday, May 04, 2010

if you can read this...

Thank a teacher!

Today is National Teacher's Day. I'm not one for "manufactured holidays," but I do think there are folks we need to thank in our lives, great teachers being some of them. So, if you or your kids have a great teacher that made a big difference in your life, give 'em a big thank you for all they do! It's harder work than you think!

Today is Primay Election Day so get out there, lo0ok over the candidates and issues and vote! Local issues, local money take center stage in most places. Often times, important ballot measures are decided in may while most folks are "asleep at the wheel." So, exercise an important right and get out to vote today!

Baseball was awesome last nite, all the 1st and 2nd graders showed up and had a blast. No one got hurt, everyone hit the ball, ran around and had a great time! Tonite, it's the 3rd and 4th grade team's (including a couple 2nd graders, like Ian) first game.

My sponsee shared at the noon meeting yesterday about acceptance. Needless to say we had a great meeting. His mom is suffering from dementia and he's struggling with all of the symptoms that occur and the decisions that have to be made as a result. For now she is in a nursing home, rehabilitating from a fall. but once she's strong enough, the docs are saying that she will need 24 hr a day care due to her paranoia, from the dementia. This is sad to watch. But, beyond that, the only thing he has trouble with is accepting the behaviour of his siblings. He came to my office and we spent some time together talking yesterday afternoon over pizza. Thankfully HP kept the chamber office very quiet and "visitor-free" so he could get everything off his chest.

There's nothing quite like sponsor-sponsee time together to get things in perspective for both parties. I thank HP this morning for "hooking us up" and for getting my butt to the noon meeeting on a last minute "whim."

5 comments:

dAAve said...

Thanks for the reminder about Naitonal Teacher Day.

And thanks for sharing about acceptance. Something I never quite have enough of.

Enchanted Oak said...

I feel for your sponsee, Scott. In my experience as a sober daughter of a mother deep in dementia, it requires a daily surrender, each day surrendering anew, placing your demented parent, and sometimes your crazed siblings, into God's care. You don't accept such a situation once and for all, unfortunately. It is a day-by-day thing. It is painful and heart-wrenching. Nothing, not even putting your parent into God's hands, makes it less hurtful. But working with others and making a point of looking for good in life both make it more tolerable.

Anonymous said...

Reminds me of an ad I saw some time ago with a picture of a bear. The copy was about literacy and made the point of how many millions of Americans would look at that ad thinking it was somehow about a bear. Thanks.

The Turning Point said...

Teachers yes they do leave a lasting impression. Thanks for reminding me of a nun we called Mother Saint Football, taught us Latin, serving mass. Her real name was MS Fulbert. She was shaped like a football from the peak of her pointed bonnet to the tip of her toes. God love her she had her hands full.
My sponsee's wife is on brink of going to nursing home (dementia) Tough times for him, can't do for her anymore, but damn grateful for the program. Me too.

Jim

Syd said...

Very sad about dementia. I think that is such a hard thing to deal with--seeing one's parent become childlike and so lost. Accepting that I can't control what others do or think has been a big stride in recovery.