Let’s Everybody Calm Down

I’m excited to share with you the success of the Prom Plus Holiday Boutique that took place on Saturday. Held at St. Luke’s of the Mountains, the shopping event seemed to be thee event of the season! So many people – new friends and returning ones – were delighted with the variety of items that our 30-plus merchants offered for sale. The Prom Plus committee, of which I’m a part, was also pleased with how enthusiastically people took part in our opportunity drawing. All of the items were donated, so 100% of the proceeds from the tickets went directly to Prom Plus.

Actually, because of the generosity of St. Luke’s and our boutique planner Diana Tyson, not to mention all those who brought homemade treats for our bake sale, every dollar raised on Saturday will go to Prom Plus. Though not all the accounting is done, it is estimated that we raised between $2,500 and $3,000! That pays for the mechanical bull and bungee run at the Prom Plus event. The icing on the cake is that many of Saturday’s vendors will continue giving a percentage of their sales to Prom Plus.

Thank you to all. To learn more read the story on page 15.

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I understand that many are disappointed with the outcome of the Presidential election. I understand protesting, but I don’t understand people pouring onto local freeways to show their displeasure. Among other reasons, it’s unsafe and demonstrates to our young people that irresponsible behavior is acceptable.

And our young people – who are typically emotional at this stage in their lives – are reacting to the Presidential election with some taking their cues from the adults around them.

A communiqué from the Glendale Unified School District this week notified parents of ways the district, its teachers and staff are ready to help students who are struggling with the election outcome. It read that at one of the campuses the students “selected to exercise their political rights through a peaceful sit-in.”

I didn’t know that students had political rights. And if they wanted to demonstrate their concern, perhaps it should have been done outside school hours. I for one don’t know any adult who staged a sit-in at their job to express their frustration at the election.

I understand that many young people and adults are unhappy about the Presidential outcome. But it is the responsibility of the adults to lead the way to responsible, peaceful and appropriate demonstrations of that unhappiness – not shutting down the freeway system.

Finally, it worries me that while we’re busy preparing “safe places” for our children so they can deal with their disappointment, we’re failing to prepare them for the countless disappointments that will hit them when they’re adults.

Life is hard; it’s our duty to help prepare our kids for that reality, too.

  robin goldsworthy