I am interested in your thoughts on something that was brought to my attention. I do not have children, but I know how I would feel, but I am always interested in hearing all sides of opinions.

A co-worker has a 6 year old son with cerebral palsey. His left side is mostly paralyzed but he tries to do the best that he can. He will face challenges all his life and his Dad has not kept that a secret from him, but at the same time he enjoys life and does not look for any pity.

Ok, so this is what happened recently. Lucas has perfect attendence at school and is quite proud of it. His sister who is in the 8th grade has only missed 2 days in her entire school career. He is striving to beat that record! He has not missed a day of school, yet he had an afternoon appointment for a physical therapist that he had to go to. There was no other time and so Lucas went to school with his Dad picking him up after lunch. The principal then notified him he was no longer in the running for the perfect attendence record, even tho he had been there in the morning. Lucas was devastated. His Dad pleaded with them. No award.

I get life is hard for everyone and kids need to know life is not fair always, but really? A piece of paper that this kid has strived to achieve is denied to him because he had PT. Help me out, is that fair? In my world, I don't think so. Life is hard enough but to show a 6 year old that even tho you went to school and had a physycal therapist appoinment for a disease you will have for the rest of your life, you didn't quite make the perfect attendence. There will be plenty of time for life to show him that, give him the award.

But Stroud Elementary in Empire does not agree with me, or his Dad or 6 year old Lucas who already has better attendence than I ever did as a kid.

So, that's how I feel, how about you?