To: Fellow Bloggers
From: Legal Diva
Re: Evidence Memo, Kiddie Commutes, and Debate Drudgery
Introduction
Today while all the kids are at school, my mission is to research and complete an evidence memo regarding hearsay expert witness testimony and how Crawford v. Washington applies. The remainder of the week will be spent: 1) getting child #1 to orthodontic appointment, 2) delivering class snack on behalf of child #4, 3) packing clothes for children #1-5 for trip to florida, and 4) separating Studies Weekly on behalf of teacher for child #4. In the midst of all this, I will be deeply saddened about missing the debates this evening which will be occurring less than a few miles from where I will be sitting, listening no doubt to some dull commentary on American Legal Remedies.
Discussion
I've spent hours reading cases and law review articles in preparation for this evidence memo. I feel that because this assignment is for extra credit points only I am prepared to write the memo at this point. I dread writing the memo, even though it will likely only take me 45 minutes, because I think: 1) I will only get 1-2 extra points for this, 2) my grade in evidence is good going into the final exam, 3) I've probably wasted 5 hours on this that I could have used studying for said exam, and 4) had I used said 5 hours I wouldn't need the extra credit in the first place.
As far as kiddie commutes, I don't know why I thought it was a good idea to get this stuff out of the way before our trip. In hindsight, I should know better than to schedule any appointment or commitment for the week leading up to a big trip. Mental note: do not do this again.
Were this not the absolute last night of class, I would be willing to skip class and come home to watch the debates. Unfortunately, the class begins at 8:10 and no amount of abbreviated class will help me get home (or anywhere else with a TV) before they end. Our final for this class also happens to be on Election Day- not as big of a deal though, since I have a feeling we are going to have a repeat of Election Day 2000 and the returns are going to be coming in late in the evening. By a miracle of the Gods, our class that day will also be ending at 8pm, which leaves plenty of time to see the west coast returns at the very least.
Conclusion
Today, and this week on the whole, are filled with busy drudgery. When I was little, all I wanted to do was be a grown up. Now that I am a grown up (which is still subject to debate), I just want to have a simple easy childlike life. Is that too much to ask? Apparently not, according to Walt Disney... he is going to make me a kid again all next week.
Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Obscenity Found Its Way
to our s
chool bus. When I was younger, I only rode the bus for 2 years, in 7th and 8th grade. Otherwise I was a "walker" and trudged 10 miles to school each way, uphill, in the snow. Well... not really 10 miles, more like 2. And not uphill both ways, just one. But the in the snow part is totally true, at least for about 4-5 months out of the school year. Anyway, my 2 years on the bus are fairly unmemorable, except for the really cute neighbor kid that used to sing a song with my name in the title. No fights, no foul language, no rude or crude gestures. We waited at the stop, rode the bus, period.
Nowdays, things are a little different. Namely, in our small county, all the kids ride the same bus at the same time. In some ways this is a good thing- my older kids can look out for the younger ones. In some ways this is bad- my younger kids are now being subjected to the rantings of some very crude and undisciplined teenage boys.
My older child wrote a blog entry that detailed some of the language used on the back of the bus. Amazing! If I ever heard one of my kids talk like that I would wash their mouth out with soap. Either these kids parents don't realize what they are saying when they get on the bus, or they don't care. Rumor on the street is, the second scenario is more likely. Our bus route is said to be the "worst in the county". In fact, the Sheriff has been called upon before to follow the bus along it entire route from the school. A glimpse into the back of the bus reveals why. Now, I don't care if these kids want to use that language while they are at home, or hanging out with their buddies- I'm not their mama and it isn't my place to stop them. But- when they use that language in front of my kids, especially my 5 and 7 year olds- that is totally unacceptable. The problem is, what to do. If I throw a big fit, chances are some of the foulness will get turned on my older child who is in 8th grade. But if I don't, am I really protecting my kids? Is it enough to tell them that those words are not appropriate and shouldn't be repeated? I'm not saying my own language is pure, sure, sometimes I say things I probably shouldn't. But then again, I'm an adult. To every thing there is a season (turn, turn, turn)- and if I want to swear when some jerk pulls in front of me and nearly causes a wreck I can do that. But I'm not riding a bus with 30 kids under the age of 9 either.
So, what do you think? Am I being the overprotective helicopter parent? Or am I still the free range parent trying to set some limits on what my children are exposed to at appropriate ages? And how do I address my concerns without having this troupe of badly behaved boys turn on my kids?
chool bus. When I was younger, I only rode the bus for 2 years, in 7th and 8th grade. Otherwise I was a "walker" and trudged 10 miles to school each way, uphill, in the snow. Well... not really 10 miles, more like 2. And not uphill both ways, just one. But the in the snow part is totally true, at least for about 4-5 months out of the school year. Anyway, my 2 years on the bus are fairly unmemorable, except for the really cute neighbor kid that used to sing a song with my name in the title. No fights, no foul language, no rude or crude gestures. We waited at the stop, rode the bus, period.Nowdays, things are a little different. Namely, in our small county, all the kids ride the same bus at the same time. In some ways this is a good thing- my older kids can look out for the younger ones. In some ways this is bad- my younger kids are now being subjected to the rantings of some very crude and undisciplined teenage boys.
My older child wrote a blog entry that detailed some of the language used on the back of the bus. Amazing! If I ever heard one of my kids talk like that I would wash their mouth out with soap. Either these kids parents don't realize what they are saying when they get on the bus, or they don't care. Rumor on the street is, the second scenario is more likely. Our bus route is said to be the "worst in the county". In fact, the Sheriff has been called upon before to follow the bus along it entire route from the school. A glimpse into the back of the bus reveals why. Now, I don't care if these kids want to use that language while they are at home, or hanging out with their buddies- I'm not their mama and it isn't my place to stop them. But- when they use that language in front of my kids, especially my 5 and 7 year olds- that is totally unacceptable. The problem is, what to do. If I throw a big fit, chances are some of the foulness will get turned on my older child who is in 8th grade. But if I don't, am I really protecting my kids? Is it enough to tell them that those words are not appropriate and shouldn't be repeated? I'm not saying my own language is pure, sure, sometimes I say things I probably shouldn't. But then again, I'm an adult. To every thing there is a season (turn, turn, turn)- and if I want to swear when some jerk pulls in front of me and nearly causes a wreck I can do that. But I'm not riding a bus with 30 kids under the age of 9 either.
So, what do you think? Am I being the overprotective helicopter parent? Or am I still the free range parent trying to set some limits on what my children are exposed to at appropriate ages? And how do I address my concerns without having this troupe of badly behaved boys turn on my kids?
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