Fact: You must "hang in there"

My daughter Lexi calls me at work in a panic this morning. "Mom, I can't go to school". Her I am thinking the worst, of course, as always. Has she fallen and knocked out a tooth ? Did she trip on the mounting piles of laundry in the hall that never end and slice her leg open on her brothers tonka truck ? Maybe there is a mad man outside and she is under the bed hiding terrified and so worried about missing school but can not leave for fear he may attack? !!BUZZER !! Maybe I am a touch cookoo and/or have watched to many "When things go bad" episodes on Spike?

Ummm yeah ...No. She continues to say, "I look horrible" to which I respond with a very very LOUD laugh. SERIOUSLY ?! I look horrible 3 out 5 days for

work, do I get to stay home ? Hell no ! Now get on the effing bus or your grounded.
        It is a hard learned fact that life goes on. Whether we live, die, puke, or have extremely bad hair. Nothing stops for anyone. You have to suck it up and participate. (If she had strep throat or a crazy fever of course she could stay home, Im no Mommy Dearest) Looking bad is no excuse, its funny she actually has friends that stay home for this reason with parental approval-this boggles my mind. How can you teach your kid that they must keep going even when things get bad if you allow them to slink out of day to day life for the most silly of reasons? As many times as I've prayed I could sleep for a week to avoid an awful circumstance, I have genuinely been glad in most cases that I tredged through it and made it to the other side, almost always learning a lesson or being stronger for it.

Dear Kids,
        I hope you understand someday.... Why I wont let you miss school for looking awful. Why I wont allow you to spend the night on a school night. Why I make you watch TV with me and will not allow you to have a TV or computer in your room. Why I read your text messages.Why I ask a thousand questions about who, what, when, where, and why. Why I always talk to parents before you can go to a friends house or stay the night. Why I get so angry when you are late. Why Im not sure I will ever let you be out past 9pm. Why I want you to be respectful to others including teachers you say "hate:"you. (which I will investigate to be sure you are in fact overreacting.) Why I insist you use your manners at all times. Why I give you book reports instead of grounding you. Why I will always say "because I am your Mom not your friend." Why I make you try everything once before you can say you dont like it. Why I want you to be nice to your siblings, since I lost one of mine and it hurts so bad. Why I always want to know where you are, who you are with and what you are up to. Why I expect you to help me around the house. Why I want a strong bond with all of you, since I dont have it with my mom and I know how hard life is without that. That I do all these things and more because I want you to be an amazing, strong, trusted, and most of  all - happy adult. An adult  who knows your Mom loves you more than anything in the world.