We were living in Italy “under the radar” for many months, while we waited for someone to let us in. Uncertainty was everywhere, both in our daily lives, and thinking about what country would finally be our home. My mom tried to make it seem like an adventure: but even at seven, I understood the gravity and uncertainly of our situation.

What I remember most during our immigration and for many years after was how I felt so attached to my mom. She was the only family I had. (At the time we thought my other family members would be lost to us forever.) When she was late from a store, I would worry. When she did not pickup her phone at work, I would call again every 5 minutes until she was there. I used to have nightmares about who would take care of me in case something happened to her. I even had a plan, I would write a letter to then President Reagan asking if I could come and live with him. I was little girl, I did not eat a lot.

So I am disgusted by our policy at the border. Separating kids from family members is a cruel torture. Full stop! No excuses!

I am disgusted by our politicians: both democrats and republican. They are using this as a political football, but these are people, families, children. A comprehensive solution needs to come now.

I am disgusted by lack of UN over-site. This is a refugee situation and has been going on for years. Why is the UN commission on refugees not involved? Is it because the countries these people are fleeing, do not want the spotlight on why their citizens are running away?

Why private organizations, and there are many privately-funded immigrant organization, not stepping in to help? These organization are working in Europe, Africa and other countries. Why not at our border? Where is the red-cross?

We as US citizens need to remember our history. Emma Lazarus wrote a poem that is hanging at the feet of the Statue of Liberty. “The greatest generation” sacrificed themselves for people in these exact circumstances almost 70 years ago. We as a country apologized for the “interment camps”.

Now we need to look forward and decide what our legacy will be. What our morality, ethics, just gut-feel justice demands.

If you dismiss my words as liberal, progressive, or bleeding heart: you are missing the point. This is beyond politics.

Source: NeuroTribes

Source: Designer’s Creed

The kids and teachers need to be commended that they are trying to stay focused on learning amongst all the chaos.

I support the school’s thinking “outside the box”and trying to incorporate new ideas and techniques into the curriculum.  It takes a special leader to have a vision, inspire the team and lead through implementation.  We consider Steve Jobs to be a great leader/innovator who changed the world.    I sometimes think his job was easier than an educator’s, because Apple’s revolutionary products are “things” and prior failures were considered “learning opportunities.”  In education, the product is my children’s future and its a one shot deal.

I am partnering with this district and school staff to educate my children… and its a 12 year commitment.  A successful partnership requires open communication, a rigorous vetting of ideas, a commonly agreed vision and (personally I am a stickler for) crisp implementation roadmaps. Today, I feel this partnership is not equitable; trust on both sides has disintegrated, the vision is hazy, and any debate is looked upon as sedition.

I want my children’s education to prepare them for a world that is seeing radical technical, industrial, social and economic shifts.  I appreciate that the school leadership is trying new pedagogical approaches to stay ahead of the curve.  I want our school and its staff to succeed.  I would just like to an open and rigorous discussion on how its going, and what the future will bring.

I am going to be nostalgic and remember the almost beginning… Which for us started when Cisco was having layoffs and we were praying that Ryan would be given a severance package with his pinkslip. Automattic was bootstrapped so no rockstar salaries and benefits, rather the severance package allowed you to pay rent for those first few months. I was working full time for salary and benefits while Ryan changed the world through blogging those first few years. Automattic was so proud when they could offer medical benefits, that was a big moment for them as a company.

Lots of code was developed around our kitchen table. The guys now with Toni and Barry (who was still waffling about joining the crew full time) would come down from San Francisco in the Chevy Lumina, making a pit stop at Costco for the extra large packs of steaks. Steaks, liquor and blueberry pie was for dinner. There was quite a conundrum when the first vegetarian joined… What were we going to feed him?

The original Wordcamp at the Swedish American Hall, where we all had to leave the the conference every 45 minute to feed quarters into the meters…. And Chartreuse was the featured presenter. I can not even imagine where that man is now.

Fast forward through formalized Wordcamps at the Bayview Conference Center, parties at Automattic lounge at Pier 38, and all of those team offsites.

So many things have changed, but I am glad that as the company grew, as WordPress became a mainstream platform for web publishing, we still have WordPress devotees coming to code on our porch, around the kitchen table, and all over the property.

I am so proud of all of you.