Live Out Loud - Adventures of a mom

By definition, funerals are not something anyone likes or looks forward to.   In North America, though funerals are mostly peaceful and pleasant, and can be viewed as a "good" thing, I've come to realize no single culture has the perfect way to view funerals.   There is no perfect way to say good-bye.   Yesteday we said goodbye to my father in law.   This wasn't my first family funeral, but it was for my kids.   I was keenly aware that every tradition, every step and every bow was a first time experience that will leave a mark in their lives.   It becomes another thing that we use to shape us and help us make sense of the world.   My prayer throughout was for the Lord to grant us wisdom and discernment to know how to walk through this uncomfortable part of life with them.   Up to this point in their lives they had not had to face death so closely, and when it was relatively close, we had shielded most of it, especially the ugly and painful parts of death

With the #Metoo movement in full swing, last month I decided to teach my ESL students to file complaints, listen to public service broadcasts and write an incident report ...around the topic of Bullying and Harassment.  It was a very challenging unit to design and I learned a lot in the process.   A few of my students end-of-unit writing report really resonated to me.  I asked a few for permission to use their essays.  The following is one of them.  I have changed names to keep their identifies private.  Aside from that, I've typed their final report word-for-word. "I remember when I was seven years old my sister and I were playing near our house.  One middle-aged man rode a motorcycle to us.  All of a sudden, he exposed himself.  My sister and I ran as fast as we can back to our house and locked the door.  We were so scared he might follow us.  That was my first time to face harassment. Then, when I was a high school student, I met same flasher many times.  He drove

Last month I decided to teach my ESL students to file complaints, listen to public service broadcasts and write an incident report ...around the topic of Bullying and Harassment.  It was a very challenging unit to design and I learned a lot in the process.   A few of my students end-of-unit writing report really resonated to me.  I asked a few for permission to use their essays.  The following is one of them.  I have changed names to keep their identifies private.  Aside from that, I've typed their final report word-for-word. Bullying is a very heavy topic.  I never thought it would happen to me or my family but it happened. I remember last September my older kid Victor told me his classmates put him down to the floor, and kicked his stomach several times.  They also used their fists to punch Victor's head.  I was very angry to hear that.  It's unacceptable behaviour in the elementary school.  I brough him to see the family doctor, and the doctor said he could