The Grapes of Wrath, and other follies

I took four days to go visit my family in Michigan. I only missed one day of class, and it was Ceramics. I should NOT have fallen behind. But somehow, pumpkin patches, hay-rides, visits with my grandmother and her 90 year-old sister-in-law took up all of my time and I didn't do ANY homework. I was supposed to read The Grapes of Wrath. Instead, I watched the movie. (I still need to read the book. The movie was not at all like what I remember reading in high school.) I didn't write my art paper until 7:30pm last night. And the one paper that I did manage to prepare for while in Michigan, and get written as soon as I got home... only earned a 50%. OUCH! The paper was only worth 4 points, but just knowing I only got 2 hurts a lot!

To top it all off, my teacher dropped my cornucopia. Yes - the one I have been working on for 3 weeks! She broke it. And I cried crocodile tears. But to make matters worse, she had already graded it; I got a B+. I can't even get an A in ceramics anymore.

Hold up a minute. Before you stop and say, "Boy this girl sure complains a lot." I want to tell you that: 

A. I already know I complain too much. 

B. I have decided to suck it up and do what it takes to fix my mistakes and do better next time.

C. I will take antacids to school with me; possibly even some zanax.

D. I will try to find beauty in everything, even the broken things.

E. I will thank God for my husband everyday- because he lets me complain non-stop and still wraps his arms around me and tells me everything will be okay!

I knew school would only get harder. I learned my lesson last semester when I took human evolution, primatology, ice age america, linguistics, and archaeology all at one time. I also knew that my philosophy professor is a hard ass. So I should not be freaking out about this paper. But the guy actually sent me an email saying that unless I have a plan for improving and fixing my errors in this class, I should drop. WTF?!? If he thinks I am going to give up that easy, he's got another thing coming! I don't back down when the going gets tough! I lost 2 points out of the total 880 possible all semester and he thinks I should drop? He obviously doesn't know how stubborn I am and how NOBODY tells me what to do!

The second thing I want to comment about today is my response to some of my family members "being ashamed of me" for not supporting Gov. Palin. She is a woman. She is pursuing a career. She is a mother. She has the interests of all children and real women at heart. Blah, Blah, Blah. 

I think some of my family members seriously think that liberal morals equal poor mothering. 

I tend to disagree. 

I have taught my children that people are people no matter what color their skin in, what religion they practice (or not being religious at all), how much money they have in their bank account, what kind of car they drive, or who they vote for.

And unlike my family, I tell my kids that even Republicans deserve respect. We should consider their opinions. We should respect their choices. We should tolerate their differences. 

Now - show me a Republican who will teach their kids that all humans deserve equal treatment. Show me one who doesn't blame all their troubles on someone else. Show me one who respects people despite their difference in beliefs.

I am a liberal. I am a mother. I am a student at the age of 32. And heaven forbid - I let my children watch PG-13 movies! GASP!

I know that I have made mistakes as a parent. But everyday I take pride in watching my children socialize with a diverse group of friends. I watch them take pity on some of our communities less fortunate by giving the change in their pockets to pan handlers. I hear them comment on Global Warming, the economy, the effects of globalization to local 3rd world cultures, struggles at their school surrounding brands and status, etc...

I know for certain that I have set in place values that will carry my children to taking leadership roles someday that will change our world. I am not raising close-minded, selfish conservatives. 

So with that said: I think I will go watch the debates now!