Fairness

Hi, can we stop telling each other to just homeschool our kids if we don’t like how things are? Why have things come to this? Since when do we tell other parents to stop advocating for what we think is best for our children, just because someone else thinks differently? These thoughts are opinions. None of us are right or wrong. There’s a lot of gray when raising children. The answer is NOT to homeschool our children just because we choose not to comply with whatever is being thrown our way.

Our children matter and so do the choices we choose for them. It is not the government’s job to control how we parent our children. It is the government’s job to give the correct funding for a safe and happy school environment. Education is NOT one size fits all. We have come a long way over the years, but lately with all of the political turmoil happening, parents are being told to just accept what is. Umm, how about “NO?!” Children have multiple different learning styles. Some exceed in certain areas and struggle in others. How about children with Special Needs? They need a tailored education plan. This is exactly why we have IEP’s (Individualized Education Plans). All children deserve the right to learn in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). In most cases, this means a school building with teachers who specialize in teaching students of all kinds of learning differences.

Let’s discuss fairness. Fairness is not “Everyone gets the same thing.” Fairness is everyone gets what they need. For example: Jimmy cannot wear a mask because he has Sensory Processing Disorder and it affects his ability to learn. Sarah, has a poor immune system and needs to wear a fitted mask in order to be in school. These are two different scenarios. We should not and cannot force either child to do what does not work for them. That is the definition of “Fair.” Another example: Josiah is non-verbal and is Autistic. He cannot speak for himself without his iPad to help him. The school rules state that NO iPad’s are allowed in school. Should he not be allowed to use his iPad in school? Or should his IEP state that he is allowed to have his iPad in school because he needs it to communicate? The answer is that he should be allowed to have it in school. This is fairness.

This is probably the most “political” I will get in my posts. I try not to focus on negative current events, because it causes unnecessary division. However, when it comes to my children I will always speak up and speak out. A parent’s choice for their children’s education and health (as long as it isn’t harmful to themselves or others) is their right. I wouldn’t want someone else to determine what is best for my children, and I am pretty positive the majority of parents regardless of their political affiliation feel the same. Because we are more alike than we are different. General rules are great, but there are times that they need to be adjusted and/or broken so those who have different needs can get what they need, not what everyone needs… Fairness.

Whether you are Republican, Democrat, or Not Affiliated with either party (like myself), the goal of Democracy is the freedom of choice. I do not fit in any particular boxes because my beliefs are different for everything. I am NOT one size fits all. I bet most of us are more complex than we care to admit. I’m more of a mix and match “party.” I also respect other’s different opinions. In fact, I love hearing different opinions. Not because I’ll change my mind, but because other people’s perspectives matter. That is why empathy is so important. I can learn to empathize with others who believe differently if I am able to listen and see life through their lenses.

Children should not be part of tactics to prove one point or another. They are human beings and deserve to be treated as such. They are not pawns or guinea pigs to test theories of any kind. They are living breathing humans who need their parents to fight for them.

For their education.

For their health.

For their lives and freedom.

Many families have two income homes and cannot be home to homeschool their children. As a stay-at-home mother with an extensive Elementary Education background, it was a challenging experience when my now 7 year old was doing Virtual School last school year. Virtual School is not the Least Restrictive Environment for my son. He has Anxiety and other mental health diagnoses that do not allow him to learn effectively while at home. The school day was too long and not effective for his learning style.

Over the past year and a half, children, teenagers, and adults have severely suffered with mental health illnesses. Mostly because of isolation, but also because of division.

Stop letting politics divide us as a nation! Stand up for your fellow man and woman. Fight for everyone’s choice to live the life they deserve.

I will not spew facts. I’m not here to change anyone’s mind about what’s going on in the world. I simply want actual peace and human decency. Blaming one another is not going to save us from anything. It will only dig us deeper into the depths of Hell.

Remember Fairness? It goes along with choices that fit each person best. In the end THAT is what is best for the WHOLE as well. We can agree to disagree.

As a highly educated, loving, and dedicated mother; I get to choose what is best for my children.

Not the government.

Not my social media newsfeed.

Me.

So, friends… please stop telling each other what to do or not to do. Instead, let’s be each other’s support system. We need each other more than we need to fight each other.