January 3, 2011- Spoiled and Sheltered...

     These three day weekends are really starting to spoil me.  I don’t know how I am going to go back to 5 day work weeks and 2 day weekends. And I’ve probably made it worse on myself because I took extra time this week, taking Tuesday off as well to spend the last day off before school starts back with my boys at home, so I really have a 4 day weekend!  Unfortunately, it will be back to Kwaj tomorrow, so I have tried to simply enjoy this last day before we begin the long stretch of the school year where there are relatively few 3 day weekends to enjoy. Unfortunately, my youngest son has been remiss in getting caught up with his work from the time he missed while in Hawaii having his eyes checked, so we spent the majority of the day doing homework together.  In between answering my son’s questions, I read.
     Currently, I am reading one of my book club books titled “Columbine.” Unless you are still a youngster, I’m sure you remember this tragic school shooting back in 1999.  At first, I was a little nervous about reading it, having two young boys myself who are school age, but the more I read, the more the author and journalist, Dave Cullen, drew me into the extensively researched and masterfully written story of the before, during, and aftermath of the event.  I expected it to be written more like a news story and less like a personal experience story.  He includes all perspectives he had available to him and quotes from almost all parties involved, describing their personal lives as well as their public ones once Columbine became more than just a small town in Colorado and rather a national symbol of teenage angst gone very, very wrong.  There are moments though when I have to set the book down. It still worries me, mostly as a parent. Am I doing everything I can to ensure my children feel secure, happy, and not only learn right from wrong, but have the necessary conscious and compassion for others to make loving and kind choices once they leave my home? 
     Sometimes when my boys are disrespectful and seem to not care about how they are hurting others’ feelings by misbehaving, I worry about that.  The book I’m reading makes me worry even more, so I will take a break for a little while and come back to my reality. Currently, my children live and attend school in one of the safest places in the world! I could not ask for a better education for them, and as long as I can continue to keep them sheltered, yet not neglect to talk about what happens elsewhere (such as when my son asks me about the book I’m reading or the tragic news on TV), I know I’m doing all I can.  In the end, we really are spoiled more than most Americans, spoiled to be able to take extra time off to enjoy the holiday season and spoiled to live in such a protected environment in the middle of the Pacific.  My heart goes out to all those who have not been so lucky to have lived such a sheltered, safe life over the years, and my prayers go up to God each night to protect the precious lives he’s put me in charge of because heaven knows I cannot shelter them from all the evils this life has to offer, and that even the most sheltered, safe places can at any time, become unsafe and very, very scary.