I wrote a while ago about my whole entry into the 21st century with a iPod.  Well now I actually purchased four of my favorite songs from my lost CDs, twelve in all.  I finally sat down and listed them out. Then I went on Amazon to look at all the songs on each one and I listed my favorite song under each CD. I decided to test it and I bought four of my favorites.

I downloaded songs from “Taking the Long Way” by The Dixie Chicks. My top four favorites from that CD are: “The Long Way Around,”  “Easy Silence,” “Not Ready to Make Nice” and “Everybody Knows.”  I absolutely LOVE the lyrics to these songs.

“The Long Way” always reminds me of my daughter singing the words at the top of her lungs in Kindergarten.  “My friends from high school, married their high school boyfriends, moved into houses in the same zip codes where their parents lived. But I could never follow. No I, I could never follow. I hit the highway in a pink RV with stars on the ceiling, lived like a gypsy...”

I love those words. I love the message of not following the crowd to follow the crowd.  When we would sing this song I told my daughter that there was nothing wrong with being different and following what you believe in.  I want to raise my kids unafraid to stand up for themselves and being different, but it’s such a precarious balance.

I was reminded of that today. So was my husband when he was called to the school regarding my son’s behavior. My husband doesn’t mess around. He took my son out of class, disciplined him, and sent him back. He’s trying to show him respect for authority and for the teacher. My son also found out that my husband wasn’t kidding when he said he would do just what he did today.

So yes it’s a balance to teach your children to be independent in a healthy way. I’m learning that and I hope that we’re successful.