This was a first

In a matter of about 10 minutes I was informed I was breaking the law, would go to jail for 10 days if my child was absent again and that Child Youth Protective services was coming to do a home visit...

I was flabbergasted.


First of all, my children are in Kindergarten and 1st grade.

Second of all, they have missed school because we've been traveling.

Third, my children are excelling in school.

And then my list would go on to say:

My husband's deployed and we visit family to gain strength and refuel to keep going.  FAMILY always comes first.  My husband and I deeply value education as we both have bachelor degrees and he earned a Doctorate of Dental Surgery.  I was a school teacher before I had children...I know the importance of school and having your children attend school.  There is also great knowledge to be gained from traveling and spending time with family.  Within the school system math, reading, writing, science, history, and other wonderful and important information can be learned.  Within the family, children learn values, right from wrong, health, etiquette, work ethic, love, how to teach/lead, life skills, independence, growth, etc.  While traveling, these two worlds can combine and new experiences can be gained.  For example, when we're on the airplane and my 7 year old is reading the safety rules and regulations of the aircraft and what to do in an emergency, many wonderful topics are being taught:  

reading/life skills- the words like emergency, pressure, remain, safety can be explained

math/science/health/history- loss of air pressure and the amazing invention of the airplane on which we travel in our modern society.  

AND THEN for me personally, I would say:

I AM A GOOD MOTHER!  And the best thing for them!  Who is the state to say that taking me away from my children for 10 days to sit uselessly in jail is a smart call.  Just think of how devastating this would be for our children!  The children need me, their mom.  This seems so illogical that they would even consider this!  The government will take a loving, educated, law abiding (except for this that I didn't know I was breaking the law) mother and put her in jail while waisting tax dollars to fund her stay their all while her children's emotional and mental well being is being devasted! How do you think my stable children will feel if their care taker is gone without good reason and their dad is already gone serving our country!  Seriously BIG GOVERNMENT, think about what you're doing here!  Because there is a law that states if your child has an excess of more than 5 unexcused absences, you are not suitable to take care your children and the government will take action.  I tell you what, when the TN government declares absences will only be excused with a doctors note or funeral service note, they are sadly overlooking all the good reasons why a child may be gone from school.  There are so many wonderful reasons for children to be elsewhere than in the classroom.  And because of the few truly delinquent parents out there that caused this law to be in place, now we mothers who truly care about their child's well being will be punished!  

I've never been talked to so forcefully as I was today.  Yes, I would say I did not know the severity of my choices to allow our family to travel while you were away as I saw it as "helping" not "hurting" our family.  I saw it as making a smart choice to fill our happiness/energy cup to keep us uplifted and strengthened.  If I had known I was actually breaking a law, then YES my choices would have been different.  Were we just suppose to know this law or did I miss the parent meeting on this?  What I read on the school system site was that they could miss up to 27 days and still move on to the next grade level.  

So what does this all mean...the boys WILL be going to school every day until the end of the year or I WILL be going to jail for 10 days!

Thank goodness the lady in the hearing chose to give me a warning and not send me to court.  I do see that as a blessing.  But seriously, Child Protective Services coming to my house? (although, I light heartedly said they could come for dinner).

My least favorite thing about this whole thing was how fast Satan jumped at the chance to make me feel so low.  Wow, the thoughts flooded in on my weaknesses as a mom.  But then I remembered, that I can control my thoughts and will fight against these thoughts to bring the Spirit back.

Whew,  love you babe,

your wife
...come home soon

P.S.  I'm sending this to Mom, Dan, Daniel and Daddy...and want to know what the truancy law is in their state, as I know when I was a teacher in Alpine School District students missed school weeks at a time for family reunion, family vacations, family whatever...it may make me want to move back.