#1 My maternal grandfather was absent in my life. Early in life I was given more of a timeline explaining why he was gone, rather than my mother or grandmother injecting personal emotions into the explanation. Because of that, I do not feel like I grew up feeling any emotional or longing desire for him, which was a tie never established. Children tend to look for explanation to questions, rather than knowing all the emotions of the adult world.

#2 I do not know much about the Jewish faith, but they do seem concerned how the acts of one generation affects future generations of the faith. I would agree with Margo to keep them covered at this time. If you have children, I am sure at some point grandma will hear all about them, kids love to tell grandma everything.

We are quick in this country anymore to make the legal system our first step of communicating. Evidently the writer is well aware of how many children she is taking care of and in a small town, probably knows the parents or families she could talk to also.  All I said, was to talk to her cousin first, if she was still the same person she was at 15, than contact the authorities. At this time I didn’t hear any indication in the letter that the children or the parents were fearful of her.

My oldest grandson taught himself to read and write by the time he was two, and was bored as a pre-schooler with pre-school, so I contacted the school district and asked what was offered for gifted kids. I was told "nothing because gifted kids do not fall between the cracks, like the developmentally disabled might".

I thought about it, then wrote Bill Clinton and expressed my opinion’s about gifted children. I really never expected to hear a response and Austin went to Kindergarten in the fall. Shortly after I recieved not only a letter from the secretary of education in Topeka, but one from the White House itself in response.

This filtered down to the local level with progress measured and steps taken from that point on to insure all available tools were provided. He is now a sophmore in high school and honor student, with many resources along the way making dreams come true for him, and intervention every step of the way at the right time. Bill Clinton might have made his share of errors in judgment, but for one child and caring a difference was made.

#1 Maybe she needs to talk first to her cousin and get a feeling of who she is now, rather than assuming she hasn’t changed. Her ability to care for children now opposed to 12 years ago, could be different. If you still feel the same after speaking to her, then make the contacts.

#2 This fall when my daughter got married, she wanted her five year old daughter to walk down the aisle with my five year old grandson (her nephew) since they are so close to each other. Honestly my thoughts were OMG, I pray for intervention knowing how headstrong he is and unpredictable, his own mother put the kabash to it, knowing her own son. Sometimes you just have to trust the bigger picture, and know that although cute would be nice, the outcome of the ceremony is more important. My grandaughter who was just shy of three at the time, walked with her sister with no problems.

One only learns from being challenged

Anytime in life the challenge is no longer present, I tend to find a new one, haven’t heard many in my life anyway, agreeing with this.

On cnn.com this morning a poll asking if you were interested in reading Sarah Palin’s book, 84%/77,435 said no of the 92,268 who had voted.

I agree, in respect to the soilders of Fort Hood nothing has warranted thier lives as being newsworthy on WOW. Why?

I guess I don’t understand why they seem to have quit looking, at least from the WOW forum perspective?

Deber,

I appreciate you and your passion for politics, though regardless of the political party or person, I would not cast a vote for an individual who came to the ticket riding on excused behavior. Becoming a mayor in a small town is a lot of hand shaking, smiling and pleasing the community, rather than showing the basis of how the town would be ran under their guidance, I live in a small town seeing it happen repeatedly with all offices of government, the committment to governor is an incomplete and John McCain more than likely chose her under pressure for less than should have been the deciding factors.