Fly The Flag

  Last night the school board my kids are in held a vote on whether to fly the Pride Flag on their building during the month of June. I am happy to say 9 of the 10 trustees voted yes. What makes this significant is it's a Catholic school board. This makes me wonder why the vote was even necessary in the first place considering what the schools have spent the last 14 years teaching my children. 

  Every single teacher both of my sons have ever had has stressed how everyone is equal. Everyone is loved and accepted. They are reminded of those basic facts daily. Children with special learning needs were part of the mainstream which was hands-on learning of these principles. My kids learned without knowing they were doing so. The best kind in my opinion.

  If all this time we've been telling kids that you are enough, you are valued, and everyone is accepted why would a flag showing that support need a vote? Adults...that's why. The students have friends who just happen to be LGBTQ...lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning. That's who their friends are. Period. They are not their gay friend or their trans friend. Just friends. It's the parents and adults in the room who have issues.

  Even in 2021, the idea that you love who you love is challenged. And certainly not to be accepted or supported by some. There is a belief that being exposed to an "alternate lifestyle" will take a heterosexual child and "turn them" into something "unnatural". I don't know about you but I tried a thousand different ways to get my kids to eat vegetables and clean up after themselves with no success. Whoever can "turn" them should be a bazillionaire from writing how-to books for parents!

  Children, especially those in the LGBTQ community, need to feel safe to thrive. They need to know that their family, their friends, and yes even their school, support them. Whether to pass a test, join a club, or try out for a sports team. Sadly sometimes the support isn't there at home so schools need to step up their game and fill that void. And that could mean simply seeing a Pride Flag flying above their school. Don't we owe them at least that?

  Our kids are different than us. They look at the world and sexuality differently than other generations before them. It's a non-issue for them. Our job is to not make it one and last night we took a much-needed step in doing just that!

  Ang

12 DAYS

  In less than two weeks my family will all have their first vaccine dose! Today my oldest son gets his and 12 days later it's the younger one's turn! I cannot describe to you how happy that makes me. Especially my kids. The idea that we all will have some level of protection after 15 long, tough months is a reason to celebrate. And celebrate we will!

  Vaccines mean my son can start university in person in the fall. Experience from day one all that this latest adventure in his life holds. Being in the lecture hall instead of looking at a screen will make him feel like a new chapter has really begun. And the youngest will be in class with his friends, complaining about homework and teachers, trying to remember his locker combination. You know normal teenage stuff. Right now there isn't a nicer word than normal.

  Those needle jabs mean we finally have a shot at visiting family. Parents, grandparents, aunts & uncles. Living away from them means our summer trips to see them are very important to us. Last year we weren't able to but this August we might just make it. If and when we do expect to be smothered in hugs. We've got a lot of time to make up for. 

  Once we and our friends are vaccinated we can have dinners. Drinks. Coffee dates. They can hang out by our pool. Kids will be playing video games together in person. My book club will laugh for hours...oh how we will laugh. John & I will go into a restaurant and be served a meal. And drinks. With total strangers sitting around us doing the same. Can you imagine?

  Think about it. In-person doctor visits. Offices with workers in them. Book store browsing. Normal wait times when calling the bank. Or CRA. Taking a car for a test drive. All everyday common occurrences that we never thought about but now dream of as a luxury. 

  All of this is possible with 0.05ml of serum injected twice with just 21 days between each. What are you waiting for? Sign up. Get the vaccine. We've already lost 3.47 MILLION people worldwide to this virus. Do you really want to add to that statistic?

Ang