Meh - you're not blowing smoke, my friend.

That's a most worthy anecdote.

I sometimes think in overly broad terms, but then again, sometimes I think of ANY child in my care as MINE. No matter that they have their own caring and devoted parents. When my kids were young and they had friends over or I was driving them all somewhere, or any of that, the minute they came into my orbit, they were MINE. I felt very protective and proprietary about them. Whether it was Cub Scouts or karate class or carpool, if I were the parent of record at that time, then they were, for all intents and purposes, MINE.

I find myself thinking that broadly about these wonderful kids - David, and Emma, and Cameron Kasky, and Tanzil Philip, and Melanie Weber, and Lorenzo Prado, and Samantha Fuentes, and Ryan Dietsch, and Delaney Tarr, and Alfonzo Calderon, and Kevin Trejos, and Chris Grady, and Adam Alhanti, and Sheryl Aquaroli, and all the other heroic young Stoneman Douglas High School students who've spoken up, spoken truth to power, shown extraordinary and exemplary courage and discipline and sense of commitment and poise - and have become volunteer leaders in this new mission. I was so impressed watching the coverage and watching these remarkable kids that I started making note of their names to remember them for later (when some of them might just be tempted to go all out and run for office).

As a mother, one of my biggest prevailing takeaways was - "you DON'T reward or reinforce bad behavior. You reward and reinforce GOOD behavior."

I intend to remember the names of these kids because when (and I'm certain, with at least a few of them, that it WILL be "when," and not "if" ) some of them decide to run for office, I plan to have campaign donations ready to go.

"Immense Personal Jeopardy" - what does that even mean?

Legal jeopardy? Personal danger? Damsel in distress? Breathless hyperbole?

The karma version of asset forfeiture?

Probably. All you need in this day and age is a pretty, camera-ready face.

and you’re set for life. And you get away with all kinds of shit. I’m betting Pox Noise will pick her up right away as an anchor or “special correspondent” of some sort. As soon as they think the way is clear, that is.

Out of the mouths of babes...

I am seriously loving this kid! I admire him and Emma Gonzales and their bright, brave young colleagues so much! They’re our future and Thank God for that! We might survive this nightmare era yet.

I hope they run for office some day!

This. She gets no sympathy from me.

She walked right into this, willingly. Nobody forced her or pushed her or made her do anything.

A willing volunteer partner in crime.

If what he was doing was just fine, why would he

feel such an urgent need to hide it?

Brilliant and absolutely breathtaking!

“How dare you tell us we don’t know”!!!

WOW! I’m in awe.

Okay fine! Buh-bye!

Job opening! I’m sure they’ll carry on just fine without you!

And btw - um - there is that part about a “well regulated militia”...
Y’all can have your guns as long as they’re WELL REGULATED.

For me, it's not just her. It's David Hogg and several other bright, articulate young Americans

who are either approaching voting age, or already there. I hope they vote. I hope they remain passionate and committed about this issue. And yeah, I hope their paths lead them to decisions to get more deeply involved - in community, city, state, or national leadership. They're our farm team for the future. Of course they have to decide on that kind of mission for themselves, but I hope some of them decide to run for office. I will be there to support them if/when they do.