Reflections of a Jr. High Substitute

Have you ever formed an opinion of someone in your head and then gotten to know that person better and your opinion was COMPLETELY changed?

As I said in an earlier post I've been working at the Jr. High lately and there is this one kid who I always see at church and in my head (knowing his family) I formed the opinion that he was a "good kid". Not just a "good kid" but an exceptionally good kid... a "good little church boy".
I've seen him pass the sacrament at church and just admired him because he seemed like such a good kid.
Well today that opinion was proven wrong and I was really crushed.

It was the last day of school and some kids wanted to stage a "rebellion" by wearing t-shirts with the sleeves cut off. (yesterday one of the kids got told to go put a shirt on because he didn't have sleeves and he got offended and staged this little event)
I was so sad when I saw the "good little church boy" show up with no sleeves.
Later on in the day I was watching a class he was in and some kids ("good little church boy" included) started throwing paper-wads and spit balls. I told them to stop and one of the kids threw one at me and everyone (including "good little church boy") laughed.
I wish I could have pulled him aside and said:
"Hey! you know better than to try to conform with these guys! People just want someone to follow, so YOU be the leader and let them follow you and just BE GOOD!"
During lunch I was watching everyone as they were playing outside and "good little church boy" was playing football with a group of boys. I was pushed over the disappointment edge when I heard the f-word being yelled.
I guess I had my expectations a little high for "good little church boy".
I was similar to "good little church boy" in high school. I didn't stand up and be the good little leader, I just went with the flow. I never did anything 'bad' (and I don't think "good little church boy" has either) but I still look bad and wish I could have just been just a little bit better.

When I was your age...

I've been subbing at the Jr. High lately and I've noticed myself saying, "When I was your age..." a lot.
For example:
When I was your age, we weren't allowed to bring hand-held video games to school.
When I was your age, we weren't allowed to bring our walk-man's to class.
When I was your age, drawing a gun in art was a no-no.
When I was your age we had to be quite in homeroom.
When I was your age we weren't allowed to make ash-trays in art class.

It's a whole new experience at the school then when I went there, and I can't decide if it was better then or now.

Good Morning/Good Night

Why is it that when I say, "Good morning" to someone I'm essentially saying, "Hello", but when I say "Good night" to someone I'm saying, "Goodbye".
If it is in the night shouldn't I be able to say "Good night" the same way I say "Good morning" and have it mean "Hello."

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's day to all those mothers out there.
And all those who want to be mothers.

"Everytime You Kill A Firefly On Your Windshield...

...somewhere a fairy drops down dead."

That is what tuna told me on the way home from Keokuk when fireflies kept hitting my windshield.

I really didn't have anything to post but I haven't blogged in like a month so I figured I'd better let the world know I wasn't dead.