Kindergarten Teacher Fired For Being Drunk Takes Her Own Life

When I read through the first few words of this headline I was upset, wondering how someone could be so irresponsible.  When I read through the rest, I was upset with myself for my immediate judgement.

Klara Bowman was just like most of us.  She was beautiful, inside and out, loved hiking, camping, the outdoors, and loved her job.  She loved teaching kids.  But Klara had problems.  Huh... kind of like the rest of us right?  Klara had an alcohol addiction and it was so bad she actually crossed that threshold of bringing alcohol into work.  Where little kids are learning and she had the responsibility of caring for those kids.  Shocking right?

Well think back.  Think back to how many stupid, dumb, irresponsible things you've done in your lifetime.  Moments you'd give anything to take back.  Anything in the world.  But you can't.  Now I'm not down playing the severity of Klara's actions.  It was wrong.  Very wrong!  But while we were all casting stones we failed to recognize a very big issue.  Klara was a girl that was sick, in trouble, and crying out for help.  When there was no help or at least she felt like there was none, in her mind, there was nothing left to live for.  Klara, at 33-years-old took her own life.

Klara's parents talk about how much love and joy Klara brought into their home when she was little.  Her and her sister used to play school where Klara would pretend to be teaching all her imaginary students.  Klara's little sister, Brita had cancer and at 10-years-old died after and 18 month battle.

Klara's battle was very different.  Consumed with depression, alcohol, and a life where she just couldn't find her place... decisions she made put her problems into the lime light and became very public.  17 million people in the U.S. struggle with alcoholism.  17 million people with problems... most of which we cannot see or even dream about.  Each one of us is different.  And yes, sometimes we make mistakes that completely change the course of our lives.  But it doesn't mean there's no hope... no goodness... no reason to live.  I wish more people would've understood Klara.  Where she came from, who she was, and what she was going through.  My heart aches for all those cute, little kindergarten kids who lost a teacher... a family who lost a daughter... and for the rest of us who couldn't see or understand how lost Klara really was.

Rest In Peace Klara!