I D.A.R.E. you!!!

Sen and her 5th grade classmates graduated from the D.A.R.E. program this morning.  I was struck with how much hope they all had, and all of the parents who attended.  We are all hopeful that our children remember all of the great lessons that they have learned about resisting drugs and alcohol.  That they don't give in to peer pressure, that they are the ones who put an end to bullying.  We hope that they live up to who they see themselves as when they are in high school.  We hope that the effects of drugs never touch their lives.  But, we know the reality of it.  We know that most likely some of them will bend to that pressure, or be hurt in some way by those under the influence.  But.....that doesn't stop us from hoping, and after all, this is the season of hope, isn't it?