Pest Management Professional, September 2012
whits world A DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW Marty Whitford Publisher Editorial Director Good advice is short simple memorable and can come from unexpected sources I ts true Usually the apple doesnt fall far from the tree So I shouldnt have been surprised to learn our middle child Jamie has a way with words What startled me was how this wonder child who happens to have an extra chromosome managed to write the best line of prose Ive ever read While many of his Bay Village Ohio High School classmates shuddered at the assignment having to craft a personal essay summarizing what theyre taking away from the sexual education portion of health class Jamie 16 rose to the occasion see the adjacent green gem When I read Jamies fourth and final good parent prerequisite Be responsible for your girlfriend and cell phone I shook my head disappointed that not even an extra chromosome could overcome my genetic contributions Really Youre linking girlfriend and cell phone together like they both can be picked up at Verizon with unlimited minutes When I read the butt chin reference I laughed aloud At least Jamie didnt write that I need to put a pair of pants on my chin But the line that really got me the one that literally made me drop to my knees was So he would be as dumb as he is now forever That 11 word line is a statement for the ages Not only was the line a Why I think it would be a really bad idea if my older brother Mickey and his girlfriend had a baby now in high school There are four things you should be able to do before you have a baby 1 Be responsible for your toys dolls action figures and your blankie 2 Raise a pet 3 Be responsible for yourself 4 Be responsible for your girlfriend and cell phone My brother would turn into an old man at an early age and grow a butt chin like my dad He already looks like my dad as a teenager Its unnatural Mickey would have to quit school and get a job but he wouldnt have the education to get a good one So he would be as dumb as he is now forever Hes way too dumb to be a good father now Jamie Whitford 16 pictured above with his older brother Mickey well crafted jab at an honors student by his younger brother with Down syndrome It also was an ingenious summary of the underlying problem of teenage pregnancy Weve shared Jamies personal essay with quite a few folks including Mickey and his girlfriend Erin and most say You must go national with that essay So heres Step 1 Thanks to you and Pest Management Professional Jamies short simple memorable advice now is being read and shared across the country pmp You can reach Whitford at mwhitford@ northcoastmedia net or 216 706 3766 Out of the mouths of babes come some of lifes most precious pearls The force is strong in our special needs son Jamie 132 September 2012 Pest Management Professional www mypmp net
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