Should We Let Them Fail?

I always despised my peers that copied off of each other in college. What if those same people went on to be my doctor one day, or even worse one of my kids' doctors? I would hate to think that they cheated their way through med school. What if they did just enough to get by and the professors just passed them?

Educators are faced with many controversial topics. One of them is passing students on when they don't deserve it. I personally feel that a student should get the grade they deserve. If they got a 65 for the year, I'm sorry, but they have failed and they deserve to complete the grade over. When a student is in the fifth and eight grades they are supposed to pass a state test before they can move on to the next grade. They have three chances to pass it. Very few are actually held back. The students have figured out the system and many of them literally do not care if they pass their classes, because they know that if they go to three weeks of summer school, just show up, they will be passed on.

Some of the teachers give them the seventy because they know that failing them isn't going to make a difference anyway. I'm not a cold hearted woman, I do pass students who have 69s in my class, and sometimes even a 68 will get bumped up if I have observed that the student was really trying.

As a parent I want to know what my child's real grade is. I don't want Noah and Natalie to be passed just because...I want to know what their real grades are.

I just hope that my doctors, veterinarians, engineers, teachers, nurses, pharmacists, and so on were not just passed just because...

I'm done with my soap box for today....

Miss Independent and Mr. Lovey Dovey

Natalie stole one of Noah's balls and she was playing with it. Noah wasn't too happy about that.


Natalie wants to play outside!


My sweet boy!
Playing with the monitor. Crazy girl.

I've decided that Noah and Natalie might just be opposites. When Noah was born he had really bad colic. He cried a lot and he had to be held all of the time. He will be three in a few weeks and he still loves to be held. When we put him in our laps he'll play with our faces in a loving way. He loves to give bear, bee, and cat hugs, making the noises as he hugs you. You have to give him a kiss and an Eskimo kiss too, or you can't leave the house. He's content laying on the couch in the evenings and cuddling with me. On weekend mornings he loves to get in bed with us and fall back asleep. He'll cuddle right up against us. He's my lovey dovey.

Natalie is so different! She's trying to learn to walk and she's Miss Independent! She wants to be down on the floor and into something at all times. She really doesn't prefer to just be held unless she wants to be rocked to sleep. She puts EVERYTHING in her mouth. I've lost her several times and I'll find her in places such as the pantry and Noah's closet. She LOVES my shoes. She goes into my closet, pulls up on the shelf, and walks the shelves until she's pulled down all of my shoes. She wants to eat our food and she prefers to hold her own spoon.
She is definitely my Miss Independent!

The "Man Cave"

Right now I'm sitting in the "man cave" and I'm being questioned because I'm not watching the big ass television, I'm on my computer.
Yes, my house officially has a man cave. Over the weekend my basement magically gained a sleeper sofa, club chair, ottoman, new surround sound, and oh yes, a big screen. I guess we have been married ten years so it was only a matter of time before this happened. Not only have I lost my husband to the man cave I have lost my three-year-old son too. Superman and Speedracer are just not as good unless they are watched in the man cave. Just ask Noah.
(You might just catch me watching Gone In 60 Seconds down there.)
I guess it's not too bad...

In other Sweat family news, Noah is almost potty trained! He is doing so good. He has a giant Spiderman that he takes with him to the potty when we are at home and he has to go potty first before Noah will. I get so tickled at him. He loves his baby sister, but on Sunday Morning we were all laying in our bed and Natalie started crawling on Noah. Noah turned to her and said "Natalie, you are driving me nuts!" I laughed so hard my stomach hurt.
Natalie is talking and cruising around the furniture. She should be walking in no time! I love my babies so much it's indescribable. They are my life and I wouldn't change anything about them. God knew what he was doing when he blessed me with my two "munchkins."

The next big upcoming event is Noah's party. He's having a Pirate Ship party! I can't wait. I love planning the kids parties. Then Natalie has her one-year pictures. I bought her some angel wings. I can't wait for Amber to work her photography magic!

I hope that everyone has a good rest of the week!