It seems that no matter where my family goes, someone is staring.  Maybe it’s because I sport a short, spikey, colorful ‘do and have several facial piercings and tattoos.  Or maybe because my husband looks like Kurt Cobain, also with piercings and tats.  Could it be that it’s because we have four children ranging in age from two to 16?  The oldest, a boy, with long, flowing hair and a tattoo at the age of 13.  The youngest, a girl, whose favorite saying is “what the fuck?”.  We don’t believe in God (never seen him), but we’re not satan worshippers either.  We just believe that each person should have the right to self expression.  Living in South Texas that is very difficult.  The children have to wear uniforms to school and my son got suspended for having long hair (after all, girls were meant to have long hair, not boys).  My husband and I found it almost impossible to find jobs down here.  My younger son was suspended for putting his earrings back in on the way to the bus pick-up.  I just don’t know who gave all of these people the right to judge anyone else.  Who is to say what is “normal”?  Who determined that fuck was a horrible word and you would go to hell if you use it?  We teach our children to be acceptable of people of different races and religious beliefs and of those with disabilities, but it’s not okay to make friends with the kid with freaky-looking parents!  Should we be judgemental of those who are a little overweight or the people who don’t make as much money as we do?  I, for one, am confident in the way I am raising my children.  To be acceptable of all.