I Have A Dream

I have a dream that one day, my phone will ring while I'm busy at work, and it WON'T be the school secretary, nurse, counselor, principal, or counselor AND principal (the case today) on the other line.

I have a dream that in the four back-to-school nights Aly has left, I might be able to proudly introduce myself to a teacher and have him or her tell me what a delight Aly is to have in class (couldn't find one, out of her six, this year).

I have a dream that someday, when someone walks up to me and says, "I wanted to talk to you about something...," that something actually has to do with me, and I don't need to wince when I hear it.

I also have some mother-of-a-normal-teen dreams too: that wet towels will make it from her bed back to the bathroom, that she'll remember projects due the next day before 9 pm, that dishes go in the sink and toilets flush for a reason.

Mostly, though, I just dream that a day will come when I can feel like she'll be okay, that finally I did right by her, and that my job description can be pared down to some minor, behind the scenes duties as she flourishes in adulthood.

Please God don't let that be when she's 40.