but I didn't.

Had my visit at P.S. 6, regarding T.

This kid is a good kid one-on-one with adults, but unless a grown up gives him one-on-one attention, he tends to let his life be dominated by his peers. It's a lot of bullying and stuff like that, he gets it and he gives it. And he's just been suspended for swearing at a teacher.

The teacher and principal were thrilled that I called them. It's so sad--nobody came at all for parent/teacher conferences. I know that Buffalo public schools don't have the best reputation, but this teacher and this principal knew what was up, and T's class only had 18 students. The problem is that his Dad is in Iraq (I don't think people think of what it does to families when a war happens) and Mom is, er, disengaged. So T, in 6th grade, spends a lot of time caring for his sister.

We should not act surprised when kids join gangs.

Still, there is some cause for optimism. The teachers and I are on the same team, and there is a good social worker that can help a ton, if we get Mom's signature. I'm going to lean on this kid hard to behave in school and work with him on his school stuff.

One of the things that I realized a while ago was that the number one thing that makes a difference in a kids life is if there is an adult that cares what happens to them. If you aren't working with some kid (and it really isn't "work" hanging out with a kid), I reccomend doing so. I can help make it happen, too.

I am such a consumer. A bunch of my recent posts have been about products. Products don't make you happy. Not even laptops. Especially not laptops, since they belong to the computer family and computers generally make me frustrated.


Anyway, I won't be buying too much more stuff. Unless a ton of Birthday money comes in.

I will post again tomorrow. It will be about:

turning 30

or

visiting a kid's school (he is failing because he keeps getting in trouble)

or

My sermon, which I will hopefully finish (It's about water, fighting, and how Jesus worked for reconciliation as he made an outcast a leader)

or

leadership in general (I've been trying to figure out how to do that well)

or

hanging out with young, upscale, and gay (mostly) episcopalians for soup and discussion of C.S. Lewis (I didn't think they would like him . . .)


You can vote on which one I will post about, but I may just choose the one that strikes me at the time.

Peace.

I have a computer at home and a computer at work. I don't travel too much, and while I would love to work at Cafe Aroma, I don't do it all that much. It would also be nice to have a laptop for presentations, which I do now and then.

Should I purchase an inexpensive laptop?

I know many of you have them and love 'em. Does anybody regret the purchase? Does anybody not have one and definitely not want one (anyone that isn't married to me, that is)

Tina Fey hosts a new Saturday Night Live this Saturday night.

I love it.

The gates tower project is happening.

(Please forgive my Buffalo Rising habit--(e:strip) I swear you are my first love!)