or does it? I think we all know that it doesn’t. So, then why do we continue to try to fit everyone, country, etc into the same size? Why do we teach different kids in different communities the same thing? Why don’t we tailor the education of children and communities to their needs. Couldn’t we start a school in an agriculture community that teaches the kids about agriculture and better ways to farm, raise cattle, etc?

I am so angered by how our educational system works. Why are we all so stuck in this idea that everyone has to or even needs the same education. Each student, community, state, country has different needs. Why do we lump everyone together and not worry about what might or might not be relevant to them?

I have done all of my teaching in schools where the population is pretty much entirely blue collar and nearly all black. Yet the curriculum we used was not designed with them in mind. As the district at its inception was an all white district. Why is it politically incorrect to say that we should teach these black students, asian student, latino students, etc things that are culturally relevant to them? Why can’t their curriculum focus on issue, events and people who are important to them? Wouldn’t they be more inclined to like school if they are being taught or exposed to things that than and their parents can really relate to?

I am fed up…so much more to come.

We have our USCIS approval. It took just over 5 weeks. What an improvement. Last time it took 4 months. I am so excited to have that step done. Now there is nothing standing in our way except for the long list of people ahead of us.

I am not-patiently waiting to hear back about my application into the doctoral program. I know I won’t hear until after the beginning of August if my application packet is complete by then–I am waiting for a recommendation from a professor who is travelling Europe. If my application is not complete by then, I will have to wait until September. Then once they decide they like me as a candidate, I have to go for an interview infront of an admissions panel to show them that I know something about what I plan to study. I assume they will ask me questions about research I have done and plan to do, about my teaching experience, etc. It is all very intimidating.

I hate waiting…

I am a member of a stay-at-home mom’s group. We get together weekly with our kids and once a month just us moms. I never really thought about the differences between adoptive parents (those who only have adopted children) versus parents whose children are bio. Last night it really hit me. We had book club–I don’t know why we really call it that, we really just drink, eat and chat. We do sometimes talk about the book but it is an excuse for socializing. Anyway. I have so much in common with them all–except for the fact that I didn’t give birth to my son. I cannot in anyway relate to the issues that come with pregnancy or birth and I have to admit I am jealous. I don’t feel any less of a mother because I didn’t give birth to my son–as if you do the paper work and the waiting–I have a hard time imagining pregnancy and labor being more difficult than that 🙂 But I do feel less womanly–that isn’t a good representation, but I do feel like I am missing something that I am suppose to have experienced. That I want to experience. It comes in waves. Just when I feel that I am at peace with my infertility, I get hit with the longing to be pregnant. But then I look at Minnow and I have to thank the fertility gods because he is an amazingly perfect child and a perfect fit for our family and I wouldn’t trade him for anything. Oh what internal conflict.

I found myself defending Angelina Jolie last night as an adoptive parent. They were criticizing her comment about Shiloh being a “blob” and that she was having a difficult time as a parent feeling connected to her. I had to step in as an adoptive parent and remind them that Shiloh is Angelina’s first biological child and that her previous experiences with motherhood came when the children were 4 months or so old and how different it is when your child is responsive and smiling and moving around to just laying around doing nothing besides eating, sleeping, etc. As women who have only had that biological experience they cannot in anyway comprehend what being an adoptive parent is like. Yes we are all mothers, but our experiences are so different.

I sometimes feel like the outsider. As the adoptive parent. This is internal on my part. No one has ever treated me as though I was less than a mother, but I can feel the difference in our experiences, more than they can as they are surrounded by those who have had the same experience, whereas I am not.

I think someone needs to send a copy to Washington written on such a level that those idiots remember how they got their “cushy” jobs. I have never been a big fan of politics as in my life politics has always been about money. I don’t have any; therefore, I am not “loud”. I learned in my poli sci class that there is one thing that will get you access to your representative–I use that word loosely–MONEY.

I was watching the world news the other evening and I heard something that really ticked me off. There was a debate on the Senate floor about setting a withdrawal date for our troops. One Republican Senator was citing a poll that showed that something like 60+% of Americans favored a withdrawal of our troops. Then McCain said that they do not pay attention to polls. They do what they think is right.

Wait a frickin’ minute. I only minored in history but I am pretty sure that we still have a representative democracy right? We elect officials who represent us–their constituents. They are supposed to look out for our best interest right? We don’t elect them so that they can fulfill their own agendas do we? I understand that good old GW thinks that he doesn’t have to listen to anyone–Congress did give him that power–but haven’t we all made it perfectly clear what the majority of us as Americans want? We did shift power in Congress hoping to see things change.

Our government needs to change. We need to change the people we put into power. We need to remind our representatives who they represent. For example, here in Missouri for two consecutive years their was an issue that came before voters in regards to allowing for a Conceal and Carry law–those NRA types want to be able to carry concealed weapons and feel it is their constitutional right. The issue was rejected by voters both times and with about 60% of voter voting no. Missouri is a red state except for our major metropolitan areas which are very blue. Well, our state congress felt that the people really wanted this issue to pass to they passed it in Congress even though we had voted against it twice.

Oh wise interneter how can we change that madness that has become our government?