I see everyone posting all over Facebook all of their kids' accomplishments...getting into college, honor roll, winning championships, peeing in the toilet.  It doesn't really bother me and there certainly isn't anything wrong with it, but I am not a big believer in using Facebook to pat myself on the back on behalf of my son (especially since he doesn't see it).

I am going to break that rule though, sometime this week.  I have always had a strong belief that drugs are one of the most destructive things in our society.  They can destroy entire communities, or sometimes just cut the soul out of sectors of a community while many in the community do their best to cover it up.  I have seen the results first-hand and repeatedly as a coach.

I have spoken to my son in the past about drugs and he is avidly in agreement with me.  I asked him to pledge to me that he would not even try drugs once until he turned 18, he pledged to never try them at all...but then again, he is only 11.

He did agree a while back to allow himself to be drug tested.  He graduated from elementary school a week or so ago and the time has come.  I brought it up to him again and he looked at me with his serious faced and gave a determined nod.  I told him that I couldn't be more proud and that although I believed him that he would never try drugs, his agreeing to be tested just might keep one or more of his friends from trying them if their parents agreed to do the same thing.

My impetus for this move is the belief that if the first time my son is offered to try drugs, he will know that I'll find out, he is probably far less likely to try them.  He heads into the Middle School next year and although we live in Sayville because of the exemplary school district, I've been told that even in the nicest schools, drugs have become a major problem at younger and younger ages.

I will be testing and posting next week.  I am very curious as to the feedback I get from friends and acquaintances.

"Be the change that you wish to see in the world."  -  Mahatma Ghandi