Migraine and 8th Graders

I started getting a headache on Sunday, and it lasted through yesterday evening. It faded in and out, but it was still constant. On the bright side, since I've reached my out-of-pocket maximum with my insurance company, my migraine medicine is no longer nearly $400. I got 9 pills for $35, which is still unbelievable since it probably cost them about $4 per pill to produce. Either way, I'm still grateful for the invention.

I guest lectured at my mom's school yesterday. I discussed the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the other Amendments (which are like red-headed step-children, but most are really cool!), and in one class, I discussed the court system and even ventured into the tiny bit I know about the death penalty.

The biggest challenge (other than the headache and my STUPID decision to wear heels) was putting things in terms that they would understand. Since my mom teaches in South Central Los Angeles (yes, inner-city, underprivileged, all minority), these kids are behind the curve. So rather than speaking to average 8th graders, in some classes, it felt like I was talking to 3rd graders. But a couple kids out of the approximately 100 I saw that day were bright, promising, but were stifled by their surroundings. The teachers can't challenge the bright when there are 30 others who can't read and understand the words in the textbooks.

Moral of the story? All I wanted to do yesterday afternoon was curl up on the couch in my sweatpants with my head on my ex's lap while he gently patted my head. Migraines and 8th graders don't mix.