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Times they are a changing.
You could lean hard on the argument that baby-boomers have not seen times this difficult in their lifetimes. The 60s and early 70s presented comparable concern, a time of huge wonderment as to what would be? I was not old enough, or smart enough in those days to know much except that things were really uncertain. We’re smack in the middle of great uncertainty these days and that stress finds its way into the school.
Our present struggle is either recognized or felt by nearly all of us. Kids can be amazing in their tefloness, in their ability “to deal” with struggle. Job loss, domestic strife, higher costs, less money, more worry, more serious, can make it all less fun.
It is in these times that we sometimes look to “Escape” from it all. (“Escape” 1979 #1 hit from Rupert Holmes “The  Pina Colada Song” you may remember)  Most people have personal preferences in doing this escaping. Our culture offers a good many escapes.  Counted among them are the potential abuse of drugs and alcohol, the escapes most are steering themselves and their kids away from.
In the end and especially in times like these we all need to take a time-out, and escape a bit.  Some of the healthy cultural favorites include escapes into books, (the really lucky folks found and kept this one), sports, movies, music, family activities, church and laughing activities.
Leisure time, it seems, is a necessary and wonderful thing no matter the attained work ethic. I knew a man in days gone by that could and would work nearly endlessly, good man, learned a lot from him. One of the little things was that he, no matter the prompting, rested on Sunday, period, end of story. “You need to” he would say. Simple and wise.
The Joker  (#1 hit Steve Miller Band 1973)
I recently enjoyed a news magazine piece on musician Steve Miller. The bit showed him, looking more like your accountant than a rock-n-roll star, escaping into what he made a career out of, his music.  I watched and admired just how much he is still into the music. Perhaps the great escape for him became his perfect fit career choice, his “Book of Dreams”. (Trivia: Is the Steve Miller Band in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame?)
What to do? Thankfully schools provide a “constant” for kids during tougher times. Same routines, same expectations, safe place, seven hours that can go well.
We’re entering the holiday time of year. It can be the most awesome family times of the calendar year.  It can also be a most difficult and depressing time for some.  For many kids the biggest gift mom or dad can give is the spending of their time and parents know it costs a lot not to.
No SM Band in the Hall.
Happy Days!

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