Your Kids Are My Kids

I wasn't planning on working today, but did see a few patients mid-day. Not too convenient - it was a favor. People will call at odd hours without even thinking that doctors might have families, hobbies or other obligations, it goes with the territory. Used to be that there was more of a community spirit. You know, I watch your back, you watch mine.  But times have changed and this isn't Petticoat Junction or even Dr Quinn. I was flabbergasted when I realized this. My daughter was young and I was working in a walk-in clinic, ER type of setting, someone came in just before my shift was to end and they were pretty bad off, so I stabilized them and got them settled. This made me 10 to 15 minutes late in picking up my daughter. I didn't mind the $5/min late fee, it was the" you can't bring her here if this happens again" statement that floored me. Nevermind the fact that I had volunteered many times to be the MD at their sporting events, or was patient when some of the staff showed up at my door for medical reasons on my days off, etc... It was more like "Gee, I am saving a life and someday that might be your son or daughter or even you..:"  I miss the days when there was more community spirit and reciprocity.

I look at the kids in this town as "my kids". I have seen them grow and blossom and really care if they succeed. It breaks my heart when they do stupid things that could ruin their lives. I feel that we have let them down in some way. We should expect and set high standards and teach them that it OK to be "square" instead of "gangsta".  That you don't have to be "tough" and it'd OK to respect each other. They are just trying to fit in but some are directionless through no fault of their own. The schools seem to have a double standard in the name of political correctness and in the meantime the emperor has no clothes. better to lift them up and help them stay up.