Another story:

Today in Health class we were talking about different types of families (i.e nuclear, single-parent, blended, extended, foster). They had to research it, then draw their own immediate families and label what type it falls under. Its good for them to see they aren't so different and it gives me a chance to see what's going on at their home, so yes I do have alterior motives.

This one blonde cheerleader comes up to me and says "How do I draw my family? I don't know how to label my family." So I sit down next to her on the floor and say "who do you live with?". She says "I'm adopted." I say "Then you are a nuclear family, you live with your mom and dad and your brother." She says "Well, they're my grandparents. My mom had me when she was really young, 17, and then she had my brother who has cerebral palsy and my dad left because he didn't want to deal with a handicapped kid. Then my mom got a boyfriend, got pregnant, I got a new baby sister, then he killed my sister when she was 4 months old. He went to jail for a few years, mom couldn't take care of us anymore so my grandparents adopted us." I ask "Do you still talk to your mom?" She says "I'm really mad at her right now, the ex-boyfriend who killed my sister just got out of prison and she's friends with him and that really hurts. So now my brother, who I take care of a lot, and my grandparents live together."

GOOD LORD, damn these parents are messing their kids up so badly. I have one kid who's cutting herself and another girl who has been through more than any 14 year old should. I know kids have a flair for the dramatics and much of what they say can be made up but, in general, it breaks my heart and pisses me off.

THIS is why I need to make sure I find the perfect man to marry and spend my life with. Everything has to be right, in my mind and heart, because I refuse to be one of these parents I see ruining my student's innocence and childhood.