Parent Teacher Conference 2008

Thank goodness for GA because it continues to enhance my life in so many different aspects. Last night was the Sunday evening candlelight GA meeting and it was a very good meeting with some incredible people. After the meeting I had a great conversation with a very dear friend. The fellowship of Gamblers Anonymous is so strong and it is amazing how many wonderful people I continue to encounter and this was the case last night as I spoke with a very dear friend. Of course the conversation was about recovery and it is so sad to see a member return to the meeting having gone out gambling. The positive aspect is the fact that the person came back to the meeting instead of continuing the insanity. Obviously the negative side is not adhering to the principles of the program by going out and gambling.

This addiction of being a compulsive gambler is baffling since there is always the “lure” of the “big win” which to me means absolutely nothing. I have come to realize that there is no such thing as a big enough win because it would lead to my ultimate demise. Unfortunately there are many people who come into the GA Program only to go back out to the insanity of gambling.

The principles of the program are fairly clear as it states “Don’t gamble for anything!” I don’t believe there is a “gray area” in that statement and I take it to heart. Last week when I attended the luncheon there was a drawing for gifts and it all “costs” was a business card; I made it a point after being badgered about depositing my business card in the drawing basket that I didn’t want any part of the drawing. I wrote in bold letters on the back of my business, “NO DRAWING” as I gave my business card over. It was interesting because most of the people in attendance were in recovery from other addictions and this would be tantamount to the hosts of the luncheon serving mimosas which would be unheard of. I realize it was “only a free drawing” but that is my freedom I am playing around with. I do my best to adhere to the principles of the program and if it means singling me out at a business lunch then so be it.

Our conversation turned on to this past election and I always learn something from this dear friend. We spoke about all the results and of course about Proposition 8. My dear friend shed some more light on this proposition and I did understand the concept. I am still having a hard time understanding how this proposition affects anyone other than the people who are directly involved but I do understand sanctity and personal integrity. I do learn so much when I just shut up and listen which is what I did last night. In fact I do a great deal of shutting up at the GA meetings and continue to learn so much about life and myself.

The weekend came to a close and it was once again time to start the work week. This morning was the first of our parent teacher conferences for the school year. Up first was a conference with my daughter’s fifth grade teacher. It was a very good meeting and went just as we expected. Our daughter earned straight A’s for the marking period and it doing very well in school. Her teacher spoke very highly of her and even complimented us on our parenting skills. This was the first time we had heard this and it was very nice to hear. It was even nicer to hear that our daughter is a very good student who really cares about her work. In spite of the turmoil over the past two years my daughter continues to do extremely very well in school and maintains an incredible normalcy about her.

The second conference occurred later this afternoon with my son’s second grade teacher. My son is not doing as well as our daughter but is a very good student. He is having a difficult time with reading and is getting extra help. He is holding his own in math but he received accolades for how he handles himself in class. We received his report card which didn’t contain letter grades but he is where he needs to be in most subjects (with the exception of reading) and he received all excellent in how he conducts himself in class. This did go as we both expected and he is a really good child and it is great to hear he maintains himself accordingly in class. I know his reading will come along and he is different type of learner than his sister. We will continue to work with him in his reading and the positive aspect is the fact that he never complains about his school work. He has such a great attitude and I know things will come around.

This was one of those special days I have waited for over the past two years. I missed these parent teacher conferences and in fact this was the first parent teacher conference I had concerning my son since he started school while I served my sentence. I am blessed with incredible children and once again in spite of all the turmoil I caused everything is truly working out for the very best!