Blogging in the New Year

Perhaps this blog is a little less cohesive than most.  I started writing for two reasons:  First, I wanted to document memories so my children will know what their lives were like before they could remember.   Second, I wanted them to have insight into who we are as their parents.  As a result, this blog has turned into posts about big events, daily life, crafts, projects, parenting and the occasional look into who I am as a person.

Some people who read my blog know me well, some are acquaintances and some are strangers.  While I am glad to have a varied audience, it also means I am opening myself up to judgement from people I care greatly about and people I barely know.  That can be scary.

Occasionally, I feel compelled to write about social issues that are important to me and I wanted to share where I am coming from.

I grew up in a community lacking diversity.  My parents rarely talked about politics or issues of social justice.  We traveled frequently, so I new life was different in other places, but not necessarily why.

When I found myself in a course my freshman year of college entitled Issues in Contemporary Society, I began to understand the world around me just a little bit better.  The following year, I found myself on an Alternative Spring Break Trip focused on homelessness, where I began to understand the importance of seeing the humanity within everyone despite their position in life.

As I began my teaching career, I was faced with the biggest culture shock of my life.  I was suddenly face to face with people whose experiences were the complete opposite of mine.  I thought I could show up to the inner-city, be sunshine and butterflies and everything would fall into place.  I don't think I've ever been so wrong in my entire life.  I was called "white girl" by a student on my very first day.  I was different and I was the enemy.  I had occasional confrontations with parents.  I was buying shoes for students.  I was cleaning rat droppings off the desks.  I was trying to find the words to explain to 2nd graders why the toilets didn't have seats or doors.  I was desperately hoping the heat would turn on or the paper wouldn't run out.  I was hunting down information about an absent student living in a shelter.  I was falling in love with my students and forming partnerships with their parents. 

I was suddenly desperate to understand why my life looked the way it did and theirs were so different.  My graduate career finally gave me many of the answers that I was looking for.  I learned just how much skin color, gender, and socioeconomic status matter in this country.  I learned (and saw firsthand) how the quality of education changes from zip code to zip code.  I learned, despite popular belief, we don't live in a country where everyone has the same opportunities. 

What I've also learned is that many people don't want to believe any of this is actually true.  That fact makes me hesitate to publish certain posts.  I don't want to be judged, but I also know that I have a voice that speaks for a group of people most of my readers will never know.  While that may not be the main purpose of this blog, these experiences have shaped who I am as a person and parent.

I have no idea how long this blogging business will last, but as we enter a new year, I plan to continue documenting memories, missteps, milestones and my opinion (occasionally) about subjects I find important.