Just My Boys and Me

Spring Break, like the wonderful snow days, consisted mainly of family time. Only this time it started off with a fish fry on Monday. I am telling you that I did think all of those people were coming! But we had so much fun.

After Monday I knew that the majority of my time would be with my sons. I can not believe that in two years Alex will be getting ready to leave and go to college. I really do feel that he will go out of the city and knowing Alex, out of the state. He dreams big and I love that about him.

Earlier today we spent time with close friends, eating strawberries and playing games. Candyland anyone? This evening my sons and I went to pick up some items from the store and then to Alex's favorite place to eat, Chipotle. As we walked through the store I thought how cool is this to be with them. Alex could have been out with his friends and Ty and I could have been hanging out at home. Instead we were together having fun and enjoying each other's company.

I hear people talk about how hard it is to be a single parent. Some days are hard. There have been long days and even longer nights. As I become older I have learned to put my life into perspective. My sons were gifts to me and I am honored to be their mother. I embrace our time shared with warmth, joy and love. If God wanted things to be different, it would be different. I cherish each moment I spend with them. I would not trade our time together for anything.

So on this wonderful evening, with Chipotle, cherry-lemonade Kool-Aid, and a rerun of House on cable, it was just my boys and me.

Lindar

Putting An End to the Light

This past week our city has had to come to grips with the senseless murder of Esme Kenney. We have watched as her classmates, teachers, and family mourn the loss of her life. Pictures of Esme and comments about her incredible talent and willingness to help others give us a small view of who she was.

As a an educator, mother, and citizen of this city I have had a hard week dealing with this story. I have not cried but I sure am angry. Angry that the person responsible for her death maybe responsible for the death of another teenage girl. Angry that he may have had other victims that have not been identified. Angry that for whatever reason he was not properly punished for the crimes he has committed. Angry that he continues to make the front page of the local newspaper, almost giving him celebrity status. Angry that a mother and father had to take the steps of saying goodbye too soon to their daughter.

Dr. Odell Owens suggested that we be outraged and want to do something about the senseless crimes that are tearing our city apart. We should be outraged. We should want to come together and become more aware of what is going on with our city when you can't take a twenty minute jog from your home, no matter where you live.

Esme was a daughter, a sister, a friend, a musician, a writer, a creative soul with such a bright future and in one moment someone thought he would put that light out. Not knowing and not caring that she belonged to family, to her friends, to our society. We will never know all the things Esme could have accomplished. I believe in her tragedy she is touching many lives and motivating others to want a better society for children to go out and play and exercise and return home safely.

Lindar