Maggie’s 8th grade class is going to Gettysburg this year. Last year we went to Washington DC. I dont’ think I’m going to Gettysburg, though. That’s just too much traveling in a short period of time.

I’d been to Washington DC before but really enjoyed it when I went with the kids last year. I think my favorite part of the trip was the National Cathedral. We attended Mass there and Maggie and a few of her friends were chosen to carry the gifts to the altar during the Offeratory.

The gift shop at the Cathedral was wonderful. I could have spent an entire day there. We found a beautiful wall hanging for Kendyll and some great baptismal and first communion gifts. I loved the rosaries they had there and splurged a little on a set for me.

I’m sure Gettysburg will be a great trip but I’m just not interested right now. Perhaps if it was going to be for longer than 36 hours I may be tempted. Or if I knew there would be something as compelling as the National Cathedral, I may change my mind. I just hope Maggie will understand.

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I know all too well the sense of hopelessness when someone you love with all your heart is suffering from addiction. I remember feeling like my whole world was crashing in on me. And I also remember the moment when my son committed himself to recovery.

We were lucky, I suppose. We had treatment available to us. Not everyone does. I’ve seen too many families destroyed by addiction when they had no where to turn. Not everyone has the luxury of drug rehab, either due to finances or location.

Back in 1998, a group of addiction specialists and investors got together and founded the Watershed Drug and Alcohol Treatment Program. They were committed to providing treatment in an affordable way. They opened their first facility in Boca Raton and now have treatment centers in Boynton and Houston, Texas.

I’ve read through the Watershed website and I can’t help but wish that someone would bring this type of treatment to our area. We need it. We need a facility that treats addiction as a disease, because that’s what it is. Addiction is not a character flaw. It’s not weakness. It’s a disease that needs treatment. Watershed treats the disease and helps the person heal.

Perhaps just as important, Watershed has programs for the family as well. Addiction is a family disease. The family group therapy sessions I attended with my son contributed to his ability to remain clean for over 3 years. Watershed recognizes the part played by the enabling family members and works to educate the family about addiction. There is much to be learned.

Watershed Drug and Addiction Treatment Centers off hope to those who feel hopeless. They offer a new, clean life to those who want to overcome the prison of addiction. Watershed goes a step beyond to bring sanity to those living in the insane world of addiction.

This is a sponsored post.

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Language is interesting. It binds people, or divides them. Language is powerful; those able to express themselves well will make their point more effectively. Language is the catalyst for understanding.

My friend, Osman, loves language. He is studying at the Department of English Language Teaching in Turkey. He speaks fluent turkish, is quite good with English, and is learning German and Spanish. He says he understand Kurdish but doesn’t speak it well.

Osman’s newest blog, Linguistics and Languages, is a celebration of language. Whether he’s showing his sense of humor for Wordless Wednesday, wishing his niece a Happy Birthday in various languages or featuring a guest writer, Osman gives new life to language and linguistics and makes the subject interesting and fun.

Check him out!

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When I check my website stats, I’m always a little surprised to see the phrase “spank my son” somewhere near the top. Those are very short visits because Spank is the nickname of my second son. I guess that isn’t the info people are searching.

So, let’s talk about spanking. It seems to be a hot topic in California right now. A California state legislator is moving to making spanking children under the age of 4 illegal. The thought of this law sends shivers up my spine.

I must mention, first, that I do not advocate spanking. Yes, I spanked my two older sons a few times. No, I don’t think it helped their behavior nor do I believe I damaged them emotionally, psychologically or physically. When I ask them about it now, they laugh at me. They’re 27 and 25 and doing well.

However, the few times I spanked my older boys, I felt awful. In fact, my decision to not spank had more to do with how it made me feel than how it made them feel. The key phrase here is “my decision” because that’s what makes all the difference.

No local, state or federal government ought to be making laws in regard to family matters unless it’s absolutely imperative. The parenting decision to administer a quick, controlled swat to a butt does not rise to the level of abuse and is of no concern to the state. We have given away too many rights; this is just another that the state is attempting to take from us.

There are much better ways to discipline a child than spanking. That doesn’t make spanking a crime. And it certainly doesn’t make parents who spank criminals.

And people wonder why I’m a Libertarian!

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