Cycles

I am usually an optimist, but recently I've been leaning pessimist about whether young people can break the "cycle" of disfunctional families.

For 30 years I have taught in the public school in our small town. It is frustrating at times to see the young children who follow in the footsteps of the parents' destructive choices. It is frustrating to look back and be able to name only a very few who have been able to break the cycle, and move on to productive adult lives.

I just finished reading a book off my daughter and son in law's bookshelf, The Center of Everything, by Kansas author Laura Moriarty. It was a hard book to read, because it reminded me so much of many of the students we teach in school who have difficult home lives. But, all in all, it was encouraging because it showed one girl on the path to breaking her families' negative cycle.

The book is a reminder that teachers, mentors, family, and friends can make a positive difference in the lives of those many of these young people who are stuggling against difficult odds to succeed.