Midnight in Paris

We went to see Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris" yesterday. The Hubby, Mom-in-law, and me. I liked it. Owen Wilson was the guy struggling with life choices while staying in Paris with his fiancé and future in-laws. He is nostalgic for the '20's and gets transported to that time at midnight. This premise led me to ask "if you could go back to a time, when would you go?"
Hubby wanted to be in Paris before it became so Americanized, the early 1960's. Mom-in-law wanted to live in the U.S. In the 1950's. She perceives this time as innocent. Which led us to a one-sided discussion about "those kids".
You know those kids. They are the ones I teach who walk in front of your car when the middle school or high school let out. The pant sagging, crooked hat wearing, pierced and tattooed future of American. Those kids....
I hear this all the time, being a middle school teacher. "How can you be with those kids all day?"

I don't take their rebellion personally. I did my own version. This generation has it's work cut out for them. Sometimes, they are quite angry about it. I really do not blame them. None of us should. I think as teachers and parents we have the responsibility to guide them. As parents, our job doesn't end at 13 or 18. This parenting thing continues. Somehow, we must help them use the angst and the rebelliousness to make the world better.
Don't judge their rebellious looks or manners. Work with them!

The start of this endeavor...

Hello all! I have wanted to write about my experience as a mother, teacher, aunt, friend, wife for some time. Recently, I realized I have a voice. I am in my fifties and my mother is in her mid-seventies, so is my mother-in-law. We live in a state of wondering when either of them will need more then we can give them.
I teach middle school students. With all the problems in California with the budget, the uncertainty of each school year is real. I never know what to expect! The media takes shots at teachers making us out to be bad guys. I want to tell our side, speak our experience. This is my place to do this.
My daughter is starting SFSU in August. I am her mother and I need to learn how to mother a young woman.
Middle years, middle school, in between raising kids and helping older parents. You with me?