What I've learned so far...

We moved across the country (again) over 6 months ago. It's the first time that we've lived in the desert. It's also the first time our kids have gone to public school. The transition from our sheltered, homeschooling lives, to being more out in the world than we've ever been,  has been eye opening to say the least. I've learned a lot in 6 months- more than I could ever have imagined. But I think what I've learned the most is that I am one of the most blessed and fortunate people in the world. And in this blog I'm going to tell you why.

Our children have made lots of friends at their schools. They are a great bunch of kids. But every day, every one of them struggles with things unfathomable to our own children. Every one of our children has at least one friend who:

- Recently moved to America.

- Receives public assistance.

- Can't come to afterschool activities because the parent(s) don't have gas money, or even a car.

- Has taken part of their free school lunch and squirrled it away in their pocket or backpack to give to their preschool brother or sister at home.

- Doesn't have a winter coat or one that fits.

- Has a parent who doesn't speak english.

- Doesn't own a phone.

-  Has no washer or dryer.

- Doesn't know who their father is, or hasn't met them.

- Has at least one immediate family member in a gang.

- Goes to bed hungry at night.


- Needs help with their homework, but their parent isn't at home to help.


-  Has a mom who has been beaten, punched, kicked, or otherwise hurt by someone they have had a relationship with. Usually in front of the child.


-  Falls asleep in class because they are tired from being up all night to the sounds of guns/sirens/gang activities.

- Has an immediate family member in jail.

- Has stayed home from school with a sick baby brother or sister who can't go to daycare, because the parents need to work.

- Doesn't know where they will live next month, or even next week.


You see here, every child has a friend who needs help. But first,  every one of us needs to wake up and see them.