Within the past few weeks, hundreds -- if not thousands -- of Hendricks County parents have sent their precious little cargo bundles to school for the very first time in their wee ones' lives. The first day of kindergarten is often a tough time for parents.

I've done it twice. My daughters are in third and fourth grades now, but I still vividly remember the lump in my throat on each of their first days of kindergarten as the doors on the school bus closed, and the big yellow vessel rumbled down the street with my babies on board.

Have you ever wondered what the first day of kindergarten is like from a teacher's perspective, though? I don't have to wonder anymore. I have now experienced it.

This is a very offensive time for our society.

We're offended by same-sex marriage, lack of acceptance of same-sex marriage, transgenders, illegal immigrants, racial profiling, and Target designating a difference between boys' toys and girls' toys.

We're super offended by the Confederate flag*, which in turn immediately makes us offended by the "Dukes of Hazzard," NASCAR fans, and rednecks. (The term "redneck" is probably offensive now, too. I've lost track of all the words we can't use anymore.)

We're offended by police officers because they're either not doing their jobs or they're doing their jobs too forcefully. We're offended by how criminals are treated, how animals are treated, and how the earth is treated. 

We're offended by guns. We're offended by people who want to take our guns away from us. 

We're offended by those who utilize the welfare system (or whatever the politically correct term is for it now) -- until someone we care about needs help. And then we're offended that they can't get welfare.

We're offended by jokers, smokers, midnight tokers and anyone who gets their lovin' on the run.