KV Techno Snake

At different points in my life, I had different role models. I remember when I was young I wanted to be just like Wayne Gretzsky and be a professional athlete - although my sport was softball, and it was just making it's debut nationally. Later in high school and college, I admired Woodward and Bernstein, the American Journalists that uncovered the Watergate scandal. I wanted to be an investigative reporter just like them. Next, I moved onto Dan Rather, back when he was an AP correspondent. I wanted to travel and see the world, reporting on it as I went. When I moved to a small town in Missouri and I switched careers to teaching, my role model was Jaime Escalate, the math teacher who was featured in the film Stand and Deliver. I too, wanted to inspire the next generation. A couple of years later, my role model switched to Erin Gruwell because we shared a passion for writing and teaching. I thought what she did was amazing!

However, my parents have been in my life for the past 40 years, and have been both an inspiration and role model. Both of them pushed me to try new things and from this I developed a fearless life - sometimes too fearless. My Dad always told me that just because I was a girl, didn't mean I couldn't... (fill in the blank). He taught me how to rewire electricity, plumb anything, build a house, shingle a roof on the second story, change a tire, change oil, change spark plugs, and the list goes on. I was a severe asthmatic, but they never kept me out of sports, in fact, I played soccer, flag football, softball, roller hockey and so on. My mom used to tell me that she wasn't going to be like so and so and keep me out of sports because of my asthma. My mom let me try out the new and crazy hairdoos or clothing - I remember her telling me - it's your hair! Many of their lessons and ideals have been carried into my unique parenting style. I don't sweat the small stuff - as my mom used to tell me. My parents also instilled a strong drive in me - no matter what project, sport, activity it was - they taught me to stick it out to the end AND do the best I could do, even if I hated it.

However, one of the most important things they taught me was family comes first. I was an only child and my parents had only one sibling each, so we were a small family. I always went with them on trips, conferences, and trips they won through work. I also went with my parents to their work places many many times and helped out how ever I could. Now that I am a parent, I am the same way. I always want the girls to come with us or me when I have to go out of town. I want them to think they are important and they do matter. They come to school with me (two girls are in the same building as me). They are part of the family coffee shop business - Their opinions matter. These are all live lessons I learned from growing up with my two wacky parents.