Happy Thanksgiving!

To all my friends here in the US - Happy Thanksgiving!

To all my Canadian friends - you already got to pig out. Now get back to work!

:-P

I'm Not Ready for This . . .

I was dropping Munchkin off at school this morning. In the car on the way to school, she asked if she could go to the cafeteria to check what her balance was. They're having "Thanksgiving" lunch at school, and she wanted to make sure she had enough in her student account for a tray lunch today.

So, we get to school, and I drive over to park near the cafeteria so we can walk together. We get out of the car, and start walking toward the cafeteria.

Munchkin: Mom, I can go in myself.

Me: I know, sweetie, but I can still walk with you.

Munchkin: Mom! I'm CAPABLE!!!!!

With that, she stomped her little foot, turned, and marched off toward the cafeteria. Alone.

First, where did the little girl go who used to hold my hand tightly and plead with me not to leave until the final bell rang? Second, since when did my 5-year-old start using words like "capable"??????!!!!!!

I need some ice-cream and a chick flick right now.

*bawls*

What has this country come to???

This is pathetic. There are just no words right now.


Girl, 13, gets detention for hugging two friends
Illinois middle school bans public displays of affection; parents urge change

Tim Vizer / ASSOCIATED PRESS

MASCOUTAH, Ill. - Two hugs equals two days of detention for 13-year-old Megan Coulter.
The eighth-grader was punished for violating a school policy banning public displays of affection when she hugged two friends Friday.

“I feel it is crazy,” said Megan, who was to serve her second detention Tuesday after classes at Mascoutah Middle School.

“I was just giving them a hug goodbye for the weekend,” she said.

Megan’s mother, Melissa Coulter, said the embraces weren’t even real hugs — just an arm around the shoulder and slight squeeze.

“It’s hilarious to the point of ridicule,” Coulter said. “I’m still dumbfounded that she’s having to do this.”

District Superintendent Sam McGowen said that he thinks the penalty is fair and that administrators in the school east of St. Louis were following policy in the student handbook.
It states: “Displays of affection should not occur on the school campus at any time. It is in poor taste, reflects poor judgment, and brings discredit to the school and to the persons involved.”
Parents urge change in policyCoulter said she and her husband told their daughter to go ahead and serve her detentions because the only other option was a day of suspension for each skipped detention.

“We don’t agree with it, but I certainly don’t want her to get in more trouble,” Coulter said.

The couple plan to attend the next school board meeting to ask board members to consider rewording the policy or be more specific in what is considered a display of affection.

“I’m just hoping the school board will open their eyes and just realize that maybe they shouldn’t be punishing us for hugs,” Megan said.