Everybody let’s talk about it: 🧵 My daughter’s best friend is Black, and at this point, she isn't just a guest- she has practically lived under our roof for years. Her favorite snacks take up an entire shelf in my pantry. She vacations with us. They play volleyball and softball together. Most evenings, I’m cooking dinner while she’s sitting right at the kitchen island laughing with my daughter like she’s belonged to our family all along. We aren't talking about occasional sleepovers; this has been reality for years. I love her parents. They are good people, we get along great, never had an issue. I want to be very clear about that. We love and care for them deeply! But here’s the thing. They moved out of our neighborhood a couple of weeks ago due to her father losing his job. Now, she and her siblings are not zoned to our school anymore. Which means come fall, she’s not supposed to be there at all. So I’ve been thinking, why not just ask her parents if she can move in with us. Not come over more. Actually move in, so she can stay zoned here and keep going to school with my daughter. My kid would be crushed without her as they will both be freshman. I keep thinking about how much we could give her here. A bigger room, keep her in a better school, all the things my daughter has. I know her parents love her, I’m not saying they don’t, but we have more to offer her *right now*. They have three other children that would still be home and need them. I haven’t really talked to my daughter’s friend about it yet, honestly. I figure once I get her parents on board, she’ll be thrilled and won’t have the pressure of asking them. What kid wouldn’t want more stability, more room, more access to things. And it’s not like her parents can’t visit. She’d still see them. I’m not taking her away. If they say no, though, I do think she should go to school in her own area. I know that sounds harsh, but it’s not personal, it’s just fairness. People in this district pay taxes for these schools, and I wouldn’t be able to turn a blind eye. I’d have to tell the district. That’s not about her, that’s just how the system works- which is all the more reason why having her live here officially makes complete sense for everyone.