Between here and there

There is a very big difference between here and there. Although it's a small community in general, these two areas of town are completely different. I don't think there is a big economical difference, but the people are so very, very different.

There, most of the neighbors were rude, I worried about my kids when they went outside - I never knew what was going to happen.

Here, I step outside and say hi to the neighbors, I know my kids will be fine outside, and if something were to happen I would hear about it from whoever was a witness. And I would hear the truth.

There, if a child took something that belonged to another child, the story was deny, deny, deny. "Not my child." "You're a liar." "If you didn't see it, it didn't happen." "How dare you?" And my favorite... "I'll kick your ass!" And those are the supposed adults.

Here, if a child takes something that belongs to another child, the parent brings the child over, makes him give back what he took, and apologize. The child is punished and the parent is not only angry at the child, but embarassed at their behavior. It is so much easier to remember that all kids do these things and to forgive and move on when you know it's being taken care of in the home. When you know the parents are teaching the children better than that. When you know it's not condoned. Once a child leaves your sight (as they all must, at some point), you can't control their actions, you can only hope they remember what you've taught them and pray that they do right.

A good parent teaches his or her child to do right and corrects them when they do wrong. A bad parent defends the child, regardless of that child's actions. And that defense can make for an uncomfortable, sometimes dangerous neighborhood.

That is the difference between here and there. And I'm so glad that we're here.

Almost forgot to post!

I was just on my way to bed when I remembered I forgot to post! It's been a busy day tho. We had to go to the other house and get the lawnmower and other things out of the shed, as well as take out some trash. We're only allowed 3 bags a week, so as we're gathering things to toss, we're slowly getting them to the curb each week. When we finished with that, we had people over to watch the Browns - Steelers game, and of course being Sunday, I spent a lot of time doing laundry. The kids had a great time, all playing together and Kyan was so very sleepy when bedtime came! Of course he doesn't sleep as well at night if he hasn't had his nap, so he's already woken up once... hopefully that will be it for tonight. We'll see.

I'll try to be better tomorrow, but I'm very sleepy and off to bed myself. Night!

10 posts in 10 days! Check me out!

I'm really surprised that I've been able to keep up with noblopomo. I really wasn't sure I'd be able to do it, but here I am, 10 days in, and still moving along. Yay me!

I've been reading a lot of blogs lately (check out the updated blogroll to the right, you might find something new you'll like) and there's one I would like you to stop by and check out. The blog is called Clever Nonsense and it's written by a woman named Brandy, who I met on an expecting board when I was pregnant with Kyan. She's a working mother of 4 and is currently in the midst of her second battle with Hodgkins Lymphoma. She is amazing. I've never met Brandy, but I can tell you that she is one of the strongest, most upbeat, positive people you'll ever have the privilege of encountering.

If you've got the time, stop by and read a bit. I guarantee you'll be as astounded as I am by Brandy. Add her to your prayer list, drop her a comment and show her some love.