Let's Talk About it with Melissa

RULES TO LIVE BY FOR THE TEENAGER WHO KNOWS EVERYTHING!

2011-07-25T16:33:00.000-07:00

A dear cousin sent these valuable rules. I thought that since teenagers sometimes feel they know "everything" they may need to follow a set of rules them to get them out into the real world. Any thoughts, opinions or suggestions?

Bill Gates recently gave a speech at a High School in Seattle about

eleven (11) things young people did not and will not learn in school.

He talks about how feel-good, politically correct teachings

created a generation of kids with no concept of reality and

how this concept set them up for failure in the real world.

Rule 1 : Life is not fair - get used to it!
Rule 2 : The world doesn't care about your self-esteem.

The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.
Rule 3 : You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school.

You won't be a vice-president with a company phone, laptop and stock options until you earn them.
Rule 4 : If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.
Rule 5 : Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity.

Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: They called it opportunity.

Rule 6 : If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

Rule 7 : Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were.

So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room..

Rule 8 : Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as MANY TIMES* as you want to get the right answer.

*This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

Rule 9 : Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you
FIND YOURSELF**.

**Do that on your own time.
Rule 10 : Television is NOT real life.

In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

Rule 11 : Be nice to nerds.

Chances are you'll end up working for one.

If you can read this ... Thank a Teacher.

If you can read this in English ... Thank a Soldier!

And for life and everything else you have ... Thank God!

The Traditional American Family

2011-06-22T21:27:00.000-07:00

As a child growing up in the 80's, I remember waking up to the smell of toast and juice each morning before school. Even though my mother worked as a teacher in a Head Start Program, she was home to fix me breakfast and see me off to school. At the end of my day, I remember seeing her face as I walked in the door It was a typical thing to have mom home while dad was at work. As a mother, my children get a lot of the same things. The only difference, things may have to be shifted around due to activities such as sports, meetings, etc. I don't think my kids have missed very much with me being a working mom. I must admit, I could not have accomplished much of anything without the support of my wonderful husband.
The New York Times decided to see what are the dynamics of the family in their area. Through the United States Census, the American Community Survey was administered or required, given the $5000 penalty if a family chose to toss it in the trash. I wasn't so surprised to see the results. The family dynamics have changed in the past two decades. It's a fact. There is not much anyone can do about it.
I have included the link if you'd like to check it out.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/06/19/nyregion/how-many-households-are-like-yours.html?smid=fb-nytimes&WT.mc_id=NY-SM-E-FB-SM-LIN-HMH-061911-NYT-

I'd like some of your ideas of The Traditional American Family in 2011.

Have a great day everyone!

My First Blog

2011-06-22T15:53:00.000-07:00

As a teacher, I have the wonderful opportunity to have 2 months off of work to regroup and energize the mind and soul before I have to join the workforce again. During those 2 months, I have time to read about current events, sleep and pretty much enjoy my day. As you may have noticed from the description from the title, this is a place to come together and talk about different events that affect most of us everyday. I will begin a blog each morning on a topic and I encourage you to post your comments, opinions, experiences and ideas. Some of the ideas I have for topics include, current events, kids, and families. These are only to name a few. THIS IS YOUR BLOG! I will respond to your posts periodically. The more people the better!

I understand that our views, experiences and beliefs are completely different. You are very welcome to incorporate those things into your posts. All I ask is to please be kind!

That about does it on my first introduction. Tune in tomorrow and happy blogging!

Here is a copy of one of the most inspirational poems!

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
- Robert Frost