denied
I knew our school board would turn down the idea of having some form of mandatory program for parents even though only 6 parents attended the last high school program. And it doesn't matter that our community adolescent drug issue is worse than the county's statistics. I know I could have answered some the objections they had if I would have been a bit more patient and been given the opportunity. These were just excuses anyway. If they were interested, they would have inquired how the other districts did it.
So - I'm moving forward....... and hoping that my ideas of starting an incentive program go over well. Waiting to hear......
Side note: Because of my advocacy work I am now the "go to" person in my community. I just received a call from a single parent who has a 20 year old son in trouble. He started using in high school but he didn't get into any trouble with the law, until recently. His mom told me that she has access to her son's texting and discovered that an underage drinking/pot/ and whatever else party is taking place tomorrow evening. She asked if she should call the police. In the past, I would have said yes. Now I hesitate because of stories I've heard on how some police have handled these calls is less than desirable. Rather scary, actually.
On a whim, the other night I stopped by one of my son's friend's home (John) on my way back from helping the other mom I just mentioned because I really wanted to meet her. A mutual acquaintance told me that John's mom was going to call me but never did. I knew her son was struggling and wanted to see if I could find out anything about my son too. She is a very together parent - it was very apparent. But the story she told me blew me away. She said that her son, truant from school, was told by her that under no circumstances was he to have any friends in the house while she was at work. (This mom also told her John that she would call the mom of a particular friend of his, if he should disobey her. For the truancy - the school was aware that they were struggling with her son and had been very supportive in trying to get help for her. In fact, they called and told her that they were filing an truancy charge. She was very fine with that.) Anyway, her son misunderstood what she said (he was high) and thought she said she would call and didn't hear the "IF" so he started beating up on her. She called police, they arrested him but then came back and arrested her -filing a domestic charge. Her son told police that she was beating him too. She said he was under the influence, he's big and was kicking her while she was down on the ground trying to protect herself. Her son was lying. But did they even bother to talk to her to get her side of the story? No - she spent a night in jail. It was so unbelievable. She said here she's reaching out to the police for help and they made the situation worse and arrested her! They never bothered to check up on his "record". She had to hire a lawyer and had to go through 5 court hearings before the prosecutor would drop the charges. This mom has been long time casual friends with the Mayor and when she found out about how the police handled it - she went ballistic! Unfortunately, she couldn't help much because this mom's case was already in the system. Hopefully, something was done about this.
I put a call into my detective "friend" whose going to help with my program and said that I have a tip but I need to be reassured that the "good, smart cops" will be called to handle the party. He wasn't available so I called the key stone cop line and asked them if they can determine where the party will be held with only a cell #. No - they can't. So tonight, along with other underage drinking and other drug usage) there's going to be a party somewhere here in town - like every weekend or weekday for that matter. T-Man didn't come home until 5AM - again. I know you have to be careful what you wish for but I wish he would get arrested. I can't stand the fact he's moving deeper into the drug abuse. I believe his drug choice is alcohol and pot - which is why it isn't as obvious he's using as it was when he was doing the harder drugs. Who knows anyway?
So - I'm moving forward....... and hoping that my ideas of starting an incentive program go over well. Waiting to hear......
Side note: Because of my advocacy work I am now the "go to" person in my community. I just received a call from a single parent who has a 20 year old son in trouble. He started using in high school but he didn't get into any trouble with the law, until recently. His mom told me that she has access to her son's texting and discovered that an underage drinking/pot/ and whatever else party is taking place tomorrow evening. She asked if she should call the police. In the past, I would have said yes. Now I hesitate because of stories I've heard on how some police have handled these calls is less than desirable. Rather scary, actually.
On a whim, the other night I stopped by one of my son's friend's home (John) on my way back from helping the other mom I just mentioned because I really wanted to meet her. A mutual acquaintance told me that John's mom was going to call me but never did. I knew her son was struggling and wanted to see if I could find out anything about my son too. She is a very together parent - it was very apparent. But the story she told me blew me away. She said that her son, truant from school, was told by her that under no circumstances was he to have any friends in the house while she was at work. (This mom also told her John that she would call the mom of a particular friend of his, if he should disobey her. For the truancy - the school was aware that they were struggling with her son and had been very supportive in trying to get help for her. In fact, they called and told her that they were filing an truancy charge. She was very fine with that.) Anyway, her son misunderstood what she said (he was high) and thought she said she would call and didn't hear the "IF" so he started beating up on her. She called police, they arrested him but then came back and arrested her -filing a domestic charge. Her son told police that she was beating him too. She said he was under the influence, he's big and was kicking her while she was down on the ground trying to protect herself. Her son was lying. But did they even bother to talk to her to get her side of the story? No - she spent a night in jail. It was so unbelievable. She said here she's reaching out to the police for help and they made the situation worse and arrested her! They never bothered to check up on his "record". She had to hire a lawyer and had to go through 5 court hearings before the prosecutor would drop the charges. This mom has been long time casual friends with the Mayor and when she found out about how the police handled it - she went ballistic! Unfortunately, she couldn't help much because this mom's case was already in the system. Hopefully, something was done about this.
I put a call into my detective "friend" whose going to help with my program and said that I have a tip but I need to be reassured that the "good, smart cops" will be called to handle the party. He wasn't available so I called the key stone cop line and asked them if they can determine where the party will be held with only a cell #. No - they can't. So tonight, along with other underage drinking and other drug usage) there's going to be a party somewhere here in town - like every weekend or weekday for that matter. T-Man didn't come home until 5AM - again. I know you have to be careful what you wish for but I wish he would get arrested. I can't stand the fact he's moving deeper into the drug abuse. I believe his drug choice is alcohol and pot - which is why it isn't as obvious he's using as it was when he was doing the harder drugs. Who knows anyway?
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