Snotty Nose has always made me uneasy. He's been friends with my son for about a year or so. He doesn't strike me as a bad child, just...sad. He walks with his head down (which doesn't help with a runny nose!) and I always seem him by himself. He doesn't smile often. He comes outside very early and has a tendency to stay out late. He's never disrectful but I've always been under the impression he's running from something.

Fast forward to this evening.

My son came home late. Of course I asked him where he was. He told me. I went into some "be home on time, can't stay out late, you're punished" speech and sent him to do chores while I finished cooking dinner. About 15 minutes later Snotty Nose knocked on the door to speak to my son. Finding that strange, I told him to send this child home. Apparently, he's late going home...and he's afraid to return.

This child has been lingering around my house like an alley cat for the past three hours. I've called his parents to let them know where he is. I even tried to put him on the phone with this father. He ran down the alley instead.

When he was discovered hiding under the balcony, the kids brought him inside. I spoke to him to ask why he won't go home. Shifting from left to right, not making eye contact, he states "I don't want to get a whoopin." My insticnt was to tell him "Then stop doin shit to get whooped.", but somehow it just didn't seem appropriate. The sadness in his eyes said enough for me.

This child is genuinely afraid to go home and I really dont know what to do about this. I told him he has to go home eventually; he might as well get it over with. What I'm sending him home to is what I'm most concerned about.

I've decided to write a letter to his teacher (who is also my son's teacher) asking for her and the school's assistance to help this family. Something isn't right in that household. I'm hoping the school has the resources to help him with the secret he's obviously hiding.

I've been an Administrative Assistant for about eight years with five of those years at the executive level. I don't have major beef with the work I do; I just know my capabilities exceed the position. My boss and I have discussed this and he's very supportive. For that I am thankful. I'm also uneasy. Soon I'll be stepping into the unknown with traces of familiar. I'm thirsty for challenges and upward mobility though I'm at odds with how much responsiblity I'm willing to assume.

I have a full life trying to encourge these kids, explore their interests and develop their natural talents so they can have a full future. By focusing on my education and career, the focus may shift away from the aforementioned objectives. I can't be everything to everybody all at the same time. Not even to myself. The sacrifice makes me nervous.

But I'm excited! I'm excited to shed the admin skin and begin my ascent into higher positions with better salaries. There's so much to prepare for; I need to make sure I have the skills needed to take me to the next level. I have a lot of studying to do without a strong plan for accomplishment. It's not reasonable to expect to be able to cram everything at once, but I gotta do what I need to do to make it. Where I am today isn't indicitive to where I'll be tomorrow.