Am I strong enough to be a parent ?

Two days ago my sister called me up frustrated and upset. Her daughter who is a freshman in high school decided that she wants to drop out of school and just get a GED so she can skip high school and just go straight to college; and she wants me to talk to her. First off I'm totally confused because I've never heard anything so ridiculous in my life . I mean do kids still drop out of high school ?(I'm being totally sarcastic , but not really). Isn't it understood by now that graduating from high school is not optional that its just the way we do things? So of course I'm going to talk to her but I hardly know what to say. I mean I'll say the usual stuff about how important it is and explain that this is a critical time in her life and that a decision like this has far reaching consequences. But I'm so far removed from her train of thought that I don't know if I'll be helpful. Honestly I'm from the tough love camp that doesn't even think ideas like this are worthy of discussion. You will graduate from high school and then go to college. No discussion necessary and there is no or you can ... It's just these are the rules, period end of discussion. But my sister is not that way. So now we have to talk.

Just the thought of my adorable Cameron someday morphing into one these teenage creatures that say things like this just make me so miserable. I mean he's just the most adorable little thing he won't do something like this to me right? Well I guess I'd better enjoy him while the cuteness lasts because I'm told by just about everyone that the cute starts to rub off of kids at about about 12 , and apparently there's none left by the time they turn 15. At least I've got a few years to go.

First Vacation without Baby

Charles and I have been on vacation in Las Vegas for the last three days. It's an interesting town lots of entertainment and good food to be had by all. We've been to the Bellagio,the MGM Grand, New York-New York, The Mandelay Bay, and The Luxor. One casino after another each one a study in excess. We've had tons of laughs at shows and at people around us. It's been three days and now I'm ready to go home. Charles and I, miss the baby terribly. I keep calling home to check on him and he's totally fine, but he misses us too. Yesterday, when I called home my aunt told me that he pulled our picture off the picture table and walks around with it, last night he even slept with it. When I told Charles we seriously considered packing up the bags and heading home early. But we're still here and determined to enjoy it because next week when the little bugger barfs on my head right after I get out the shower, I'll wish I were here.