Good for her...and you!

My children all had a few rough years, but are amazing adults and we're close now. My middle daughter is going to be my guardian and conservator when I need that. My oldest and youngest have needed me for new mom questions. Even when my challenging child was in her horrible teenage years, even when we fought like cats and dogs, or moms and daughters; she would always take a few moments and tell me she loved me every day. They tell me now they're proud of me for facing life's challenges. And I am proud of the strong women they've become.

I’m a middle school teacher in a low income, highly religious immigrant community. My students, mostly Hispanic, range in age from about 10 to 13, so a little on the preteen side. Of course they have no idea what MY religious beliefs are, but I think that because I’m a science teacher they feel comfortable coming to me with quite an array of life experiences that the other teachers don’t ever hear about!! “Miss, can we talk privately?” is pretty common... last year’s talks included:

How do I know if I’m gay or bisexual? Should I tell my mother that I got my period? I’m worried that my friend might be hurting herself. I miss my mother but can’t talk to my Dad about why she left. Ever since my brother died I don’t feel like myself and I’m always sad. My ADD medicine makes me feel like I’m not me, but when I don’t take it I can’t do any work, what should I do.....

Beautiful story. The world needs more people like you.

I'm a high school teacher as well, and I get that warm fuzzy feeling every time a student comes back to ask me to write a letter of recommendation, or to tell me how much my class prepared him for some really tough class he is taking in college.

You are quite honestly an angel. I know this is a religious term but if the shoe fits. I feel it is a privilege to know you as you are someone I respect, because of what you do. Thanks for your time and effort. I have reread your profile as it was mentioned that men are not doing this. I find that you like to sew, I learned to sew from my mother who made all my shirts while she was alive. It was great, receiving a box of ten or so shirts at random times. She also made wardrobes of clothes for several people one of whom had the disease where they do not grow. Great to hear that you like to do this, it is kind of like making furniture, but the materials are a lot less expensive.

Many years ago my first husband and I were close friends with a Jewish couple who had a teenage daughter. She was invited on a "camping trip" with her friend's family, which turned out to be a religious retreat with their church. They had tried to "correct" her thinking; after all, it was "her people" who had killed Jesus. She was a wreck when she got back and was afraid to talk to her parents about it, but asked if she could talk to us.

We were so surprised, because our friends knew were not "believers", but they were happy to ask us to help her and we felt honored to help. I felt so bad for her and so angry at those church people for what they had done to our friends and their daughter, I really wanted to do more than scream! But calmer heads prevailed (my husband) and we had what I can only describe as a de-programming session that lasted quite a long time. Thankfully, she is a brilliant young woman and was able to see through all of their rhetoric.

Her family is very close and many of their beliefs are steeped in traditions that go back thousands of years, so there is no way we were going to try to discuss any of that with her, but she needed to know how cruel those people were to do what they did. Today, they could be sued for a hate crime. I would probably be leading the charge!

I guess you're a teacher! Greetings from a fellow teacher.

The last time I was with an 18 yo, the only conversation was, you do have a condom right?.

But seriously. I have learned from some great mentors in the few professions I've gone through. So I've always payed it forward, and help those who could use it.

I have a great friend in Memphis who helps me with my proofing and editing of my writing. She is horribly crippled and in terrible pain, but her mind is exacto sharp. Nothing gets past her and she is invaluable to my work.

It is great of you to help people with editing. Grammer was never my strong suit, but I do enjoy writing.