Reminiscing

 Have I told y'all how much I love teaching????  For our end of year field trip, we ventured over to the The Institute of Texas Cultures. My 7th and 8th grade History class was so bummed and dreaded the trip, because they wanted to go to Fiesta Texas instead, but it didn't work out.  After, we got there they had a blast and enjoyed it. When we got back to school for a wrap up session be discussed the importance of oral histories. If it wasn't for people passing down stories for generations we wouldn't know a lot of things we know today. I had them each do an oral interview with a relative.  They weren't very happy with this assignment and was over it before it ever started...... I asked each of them to turn in a product, that if they were to store this interview and come across it in 30 years, that they would be tickled pink to have!  They all thought that was dumb....what 7th or 8th grader doesn't think everything is dumb. I gave my class, sample questions, but just let them run with it.  I gave them no other direction(It wasn't for a grade) but I didn't let them know that and gave them a due date.  Nothing else was said but little reminders here or there.  I had 10 students in my class, and 8 of the 10 turned in interviews that brought tears to my eyes.  They actually took this assignment serious and after interviewing their grandparents or old family friends, they realized that this assignment was pretty neat.  They learned lots of stories and information from their families.  Stories that they would have never known, had they not asked. I even had one student, who didn't do his, become inspired on the day everyone presented their interviews, that he went home and decided to interview his grandpa.  He was thankful he had that paper afterwards.  So thankful that they now have this little piece of history to pass down to their kiddos!

During this time my sister was doing a power point on our family history.  I ended up sharing tid bits of this with my class.  My mom was adopted.  This is her biological mom Patsy.  When I look at pictures of her.........it makes me angry.  All of these pictures show a beautiful woman living life to the fullest and having a grand ole time.

 But these pictures are deceiving... She had many men in her life who gave her this lifestyle. What did she have to do in return?  Who knows, but I do know, depression and alcohol soon took over her life.

 I see everyone in my family in this picture.  This is who we all came from. Someone who I wish so dearly I had known and someone who I am so lucky and thankful I didn't know. A constant conflict of emotions.  Was my mom and Aunts better off being adopted than staying with her?  Not sure, but either way they have a choice now.  A choice to let go of the past, forgive and focus on the present. Find joy in the present and don't let history repeat itself.

I will forever cherish these pictures, but I will never let them blind me from the sad truth.