Candace Chaitlin-gardner:  

, Cory was writing 1-20 and his alphabets, and he has excelled at learning. He is an apt student, eager to learn and do new things. He is amazing us all! Update, 1/30/10: In first grade now, Cory is reading at 3rd grade level and doing math at an advanced level as well. Everyday we see a new maturity and changes that impress and amaze us. Update 10-10-10: Cory is now being home schooled. The school system here in Hemet does not put the children first, frankly, neither did the last school he was in! I got tired of bad teachers getting away with terrorizing the kids in their classrooms. I did not want Cory to get acclimated to one school only to be moved to another, albeit supposedly better school ~ and that was why we opted for home schooling, and he is doing great!!! Update 10/11: Home schooling a 3rd grader is harder than 2nd was, but we have those break-thru moments that make it all worthwhile. Multiplication Facts has been a challenge, even for a smart kid like Cory. No time for anything but school and work this year. Weekends are house work days... 11/3/11 - Yes, life has stresses and I am getting more forgetful, but if this is a mid-life "crisis" I say "Bring it on!". Within I am more focused and at peace than ever before, no matter whatever else it may appear to be on the outside, LOL! I am watching the Occupy Movement Participants (Sorry, some of them are just so polite that I have trouble giving them any other moniker. But I guess that also depends on which group you are watching ~ some are more aggressive Protesters, a few have earned the title Rioters or Vandals. Whatever the perspective, recently I was standing in my kitchen watching a newscast, seeing the protesters and it dawned on me that this was the second time in my life that I was an observer of a critical and amazing time in the history of America, when the collective Whole discovered their voices and used them as one to force a change, FOR THE BETTER OF ALL Americans! The first time I was too young to really understand what I was seeing and how important it was to my future, this second time I am seeing it knowing the outcome will change America but a positive outcome really depends on Americans learning to vote their conscience not their fear, and learning that education is the only way to relieve their fears. When we are informed with real facts we find the path so much easier... Fund Education to Fix Education. Invest in the future... Perhaps we need to say to the GOP, to the 1% at least, that they need to invest in the American People again. They have had 10 years to invest in making only themselves rich. But an investment in America now has a 100% return with benefits (and let's face it, they drive better cars than we do, they NEED better roads ~ my father sold his prized Mustang for a song because he could not bear to hurt it driving it on the bad island roads!) Try investing in people who are hungry to give back their very best while earning a living, rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure, and educating our future geniuses as well as our future teachers, doctors, nurses, firefighters, law enforcement, because let's face it, if you ever have need of anyone from these professions, wouldn't you want someone who has had the best schooling, has a strong sense of security and so is undistracted? Oops, when did I climb up here on this pulpit? Just the ramblings of someone having a Mid-Life Celebration!".