Baby Classes Are Over

We graduated, so CPS will let us take our child home. It sounds to me like you have three or four weeks of Hell, gently tapering off into purgatory and then staying there for about eighteen years. Then, you get three or four years of Nirvana before they return home with a college degree, but unemployed because the Republicans will have destroyed the economy. Our revenge will come in either the form of grandchildren, or our daughter caring for us in our old age. If she has built up a real karmic debt, both.

Apparently there are some really blissful moments in there and it is important that we enjoy those because that when we are supposed to look at each other and say moments like this make it all worthwhile. Most of the time, however, will be spend in mortal fear of something or other harming our child: pollution, food poisoning, allergic reactions, Republicans, guns, crime, bad schools, pornography, Republicans, drugs, promiscuity, driving, Republicans, and of course, there is the fear of her taking up with and hanging around the wrong sort of people; you know who I mean. Christians and Republicans. If we can keep her away from them, then we will be able to take great pride in our parenting skills.

I should make it clear that I don't intend to prevent my daughter from exploring or even becoming a Christian. If she finds Jesus to be the path to her Diety, by all means she should follow that path. I intend to steer her clear of megachurches and their emphasis on large donations and avoidance of critical thinking. I will steer her towards places of worship and service to our fellow men.

I do intend to raise her as a Witch, but as a young adult, she will be allowed to choose her own faith. I would like to expose her to many different belief systems so that she can appreciate the diversity of faiths and opinions out there. And then I can explain what is wrong with each of them.

Critical thinking is not taught in our schools. I'm not sure how to go about teaching it, but because I regard it as essential, I am going to do my best. People with the ability to think critically tend to succeed because when confronted with a problem, they recognize both the problem and the opportunity it presents. People not trained to think critically see only a problem.

Because I am an alcoholic, I would like to involve her in Alateen. I don't want to tell her what to do; it is her life. But I want her to know where to go for help and how to recognize danger. The sad truth is, if she is genetically predisposed to alcoholism no matter what I do, she may become a full blown alcoholic. That is just the way it is. All I can do is show her the tools I used to escape that hell and hope she recognizes there is a way out sooner than I did.

And no matter what, I will do my best to always let her know I love her. Not just with words but deeds as well.

Good Morning Goddess Brigit, my name is Andy and I am an alcoholic. I have been kept sober, by Your grace and Your grace alone, since Imbolc 2001. I'd like to take this moment to thank You, my Higher Power, for this daily reprieve. Today is a good day to be sober.

Please be with me today, all through the day and help me stay sober all day long. Show me your will for me and grant me the power to carry that out. Thy will, not mine, be done. Blessed Be.