Undecided

It's almost 1:00 PM on Sunday afternoon. I really can't decide on whether or not to send Beth to school tomorrow. I keep going back and forth. (Cori is going. She attends a tiny, rural k-12 school that is far removed from the nonsense of the big schools.)

On one hand, I realize that with the HUGE presence of every available law enforcement agency (city, county, state, and federal levels are all represented right now) that our schools will probably be the safest place to be this week. I've also been told repeatedly that gang violence does not occur at school. (too many witnesses and it's all captured on the video cameras)

However, it only takes one incident of violence to hurt someone. Just because they haven't done it before, it doesn't mean they won't start. Yes, supposedly gangs have "rules." However, by their very existence, gangs prove they don't like to follow the rules of society. How can I trust them to follow their own rules? I'd be trusting gang members. Is that logical? Am I willing to bet my daughter's life that they will follow their rules?

But, it's school. I can't keep her out forever. Goodness knows she can't miss much. She struggles to keep up when she attends every day.

I've almost decided to base my decision on someone else's opinion. The book keeper at my school has a daughter at Beth's school. I've known her for years and we think a lot alike. She tends to be just a tad more overprotective with her kids. I'm planning to call her later and see if her daughter is going. I may or may not do whatever she's doing.

I'm just still a little shocked that this is happening in my town. I've lived here my whole life. What happened to the good old days? We used to be worried about the kids who hung out in the Kroger parking lot and drank. That's a problem I can handle. This gang thing has me thrown. I can't protect her from all the evils in today's world. However, what if sending her to school (normally the right thing to do) is actually putting her in harm's way?