Miss Meow, I know it doesn't make sense. I'm trying to come to terms with it myself. I'm "working the system" because it seems that what you need to do to get ahead anymore and it stinks. If everyone else is shoving their foot in the door and knocking my kids down, I need everything in the world I can to give them the chance to get back up. I'm like a big mama bear who's riled up and ready to fight anyone to protect her cubs!

I hate that I am contradicting myself here. I know it and hate it. I am doing whatever it take to give him an edge. I wish that he'd actually work for what he has. He won't, and someday that'll come and bite him in the tooshy. Let it hit him later, right now, my main concern is getting him to college and doing whatever I can to make sure he has equal fighting power to get his name attached to whatever scholarships a school can offer.

But that's eactly what I mean... why should my son have an added advantage over the other kids? I really don't think he should. I honestly feel that if he didn't know schools were so eager to give him a scholarship that he'd be working hard. He so badly wants to become a history teacher (ironic, isn't it?) Funny thing is that he's genius level smart and blows everyone away with his knowledge... and he wants to pass his knowledge onto kids. He knows he needs college to attain this dream. If he didn't know about the accomadations schools make for kids like him, he'd be busting his rump to get the grades to proove himself and get into college on his own merit. Since he doesn't have to, he figures he won't. And if you think I'm going to be stupid enough not to take advantage of it... well, I'm not going to be stupid.

GP Girl, I'm so sorry that people react that way. My neighbors are a mixed couple with three of the most gorgeous kids I've ever met. I never ever onced stopped to think less of them or the kids. But I do know that people have. I've talked to my neighbor about the problems they've encountered, and all I can say is that intolerance is an evil thing. In fact, we've had many many long talks about this very subject. She sees it from her perspective, and then she sees it with how people respond to her gay brother. Same story, just a different group of people. All I can say is that you are lucky to have a good home life where your mother is strong and is teaching you to be a strong woman too. A good home life is supposed to diffuse the anger of the world and foster a sense of belonging and love. Too many people don't have that - regardless of color.

Kay, my kids wear FuBu... the socks were really cheap at JCPenny. They are comfy and the kids love them.

GP Girl (again... sorry, just hit preview and saw this) do you know how many blacks sold blacks into slavery? My husband is taking a course right now about Lincoln and it very interesting about slavery.. I can send you the book when he's done with it. Seriously, I'm being honest here... not at all condemning. He's been talking about this book all week and about how much its opened his eyes.