Is this my Karma?

     They say Karma is a bitch. I believe that. I believe there is a little old lady, named Karma, watching over us and keeping notes. So when we do something bad, she jots it down, for future reference. So I wonder if Karma is trying to teach me a lesson.
     Way back when I began teaching, and before I had kids, I had a student that was BAD, with a capital B! He was labeled as ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder), yes there is such a thing. I witnessed his behavior on many occasions with his parents (mostly his dad). Every single time I thought, " Boy, that kid is smart! He's got his dad wrapped around his finger and totally giving in to him!" Honestly, I couldn't believe these parent LET their child act this way. They were weak and they had no control. I also couldn't believe they couldn't find a medicine for him! I mean, come on, really? There are meds for everything! If any of my teaching friends are reading this, I want you to tell me which student this is I am talking about. I bet most of you know!
     So now, I feel bad. I feel bad for thinking this about this boy and his family. I remember at conferences, the mother was depleted. She didn't say much ( I mean, what could she say?) I was just amazed that she didn't seem to care. Both parents, actually, were depleted, washed out, spent, done. I think back to this and I wish I could go back in time. I wish I knew then, what I know now.
      I wonder what became of that family? I wonder how this student turned out. I think he would be in college now. I had his older brother too. I wonder if he is ok. I wonder. I wonder if this is Karma's way of saying, " See, not everything is what it seems."