parents
The boundless love a parent has for their child is matched only by their capacity to embarrass them.
Un-lost
I was not well. I was walking. Walking. Walking. How long had I been walking? The streetlights weren't lighting the path in front of me. I looked around and could see some cars illuminating the freeway far off, but that wasn’t in the direction I was heading. Where was I heading? The pavers in front of me were cracked more often than not and grass burst through in a haphazard Guerrilla warfare against the grey slabs. I didn't recognise this state of disrepair. Where was I? I searched for street signs, but I had lost my bearings and my feet didn't stop. At an intersection I turned left, the next one I turned right, then straight ahead. I couldn't get more lost, could I? I turned my mind back to when I was home, when I’d gotten the call. I had gotten bad news, I had left. I couldn't accept what I had heard, it just couldn't be right. I couldn't keep it all straight in my head. My memories were fractured. What had happened?
By Colin Fielding4 years ago in Families
Mr Henry
let’s just start by saying a lot has changed in the course of a few years. Moving the kids from southern PA to Boone North Carolina, since my divorce was final February of last year. This definitely has been a challenging year to say the least. Moving from a small two bedroom apartment to a three bedroom cabin in the mountains, has always been a dream of mine. It had never occurred to me that I would be able to buy something. But when my great aunt passed away six months ago she left her only niece “me” a considerable amount of money. By no means is this the luxury cabins like you see in the Great Smoky Mountains but we have everything we need. The kids are at least happy having their own bedrooms finally. It was just after 5 PM i was making dinner the sky was beautiful with hints of pink and, purple as a the sunset. “Spaghetti again” my son came around the corner and said “yes” I said I already had the hamburger laid out Colby I wasn’t about to waste it sorry but this is it for tonight. He rolled his eyes typical teenager I thought to myself. Kay my daughter came running into the kitchen “mom mom There’s something outback under the tree where my swing is hung up hurry”! I said to my son “please watch that the pasta don’t boil over ok”, “ Yes” he said in an irritated voice. I walked down the back steps of the cabin making sure to hold on to the railing. I knew the last step was loose “darn” I said to myself I need to get someone out here to fix this when it warms up. Kay was standing in front of the tree “look look” she said “What I don’t see anything”. When my eyes adjusted I could see a white ball with a little bit of brown coming down its back.” It’s hurt mommy it’s hurt” Kay says anxiously. I reached down to look at it to see what it was it looks like it’s a baby owl I said. It must’ve fallen from the tree. “What should we do” her little voice cracked and she looked as though she was on the verge of tears. Don’t worry I’ll call Mr. Henry he’ll know what to do. Mr. Henry was 67 years old he lives just down the road from us in the cabin to the left of my mile long driveway. He was our only neighbor for 4 miles. He used to be a park ranger back in his younger days I knew giving him a call he would know exactly what we should do. Mr. Henry pulled up in his old Ford Ranger about 30 minutes later he got out of the truck and he had a blanket in one hand and a cate in the other. “So what do you ladies have here” he said his pale blue eyes sparkled in the sun as it set over the last bit of daylight. He knelt down “looks like a barn owl”he said “must’ve fell out of the tree when we had the Highwinds last night”. “Will it be ok” Kay said anxiously. “Don’t you worry” said Mr. Henry “this little fella will just be fine I’ll take him into town to the local vet and get him looked over and checked out!” “Good job in finding this little fella, he would not have survive long out here with all the critters we have in these parts at night” “Mom I heard my son call from the kitchen the noodles are ready. “We are coming I said.” “Thank you Mr. Henry we appreciate it.” “Anytime he said with a smile.”
By Brandy Shauf4 years ago in Families
Paper Zoo
Pain echoes. It becomes a part of everyone it touches, sometimes even things. I hold my daughter, her face craning up to me with a baby’s curiosity of strangers. Her world is so small, such a tight registry of memory that I am not a part of. Babies don’t remember moments, but they do remember—not words or actions, but everything underneath. She won’t remember my unshaven face, but maybe the things it veils. Will she remember bright orange? The particular hue that only appears here, in this cold room?
By Moon Blossom4 years ago in Families
BABY WITH THE GOOD BACK
BABY WITH THE GOOD BACK “Don’t you think we should stop now?” asked Tochi as he watched his father sharpen his arrow in preparation for another episode of hunting. They already have three rabbits, a pheasant and one deer. He knew it was enough to trade on and live off until the next hunting in four days. Besides, it was getting dark.
By Nneka Anieze4 years ago in Families
To My Mother
I remember when I was six years old, getting ready in a pretty pink dress with little bells sewed to the inside so every time I moved, I mad a little noise. It was my favorite dress and you let me wear it that day. You didn't want to break my heart and tell me that we were wearing it to my dad's funeral. I remember begging him to wake up and not getting what I want. I remember throwing a huge fit and you taking me out of there with tears streaming down your cheeks.
By Nicole C Mullins4 years ago in Families
What if I told you I could move the sun...
Shit! I could tell by the way the sun was splitting the shades at my window I was late again. A makeshift sun dial cast on my wall mocking me. I must have hit snooze one too many times. I jumped out of bed skipping my slippers and ran for the bathroom to prepare myself to face another day. Halfway down the hall I felt it that unmistakable pain shooting up my leg originating from the heel of my foot. The pain only a man with young children knows. The pain that only a single missed LEGO block can cause, turning your hallway into a minefield of morning mayhem and disaster. Well, if anyone else overslept they were up now after the slew of expletives that came regrettably out of my mouth. Looking up from my throbbing foot wanting to banish LEGOs from the house. For good. I saw my son, his eyes half closed and filled with the night, barely awake, looking puzzled. He asked "are you okay daddy?" "No I'm not okay. I'm late, and because you can't clean up your toys I hurt myself, go get ready for school", I said, yelling down the hall. I could almost see my words gun him down as fast as his half asleep mind could process them. Half limping, I continued my journey to the bathroom keeping my eyes peeled for another stray LEGO, sitting, waiting to attack. Once I made it safely to the bathroom I shut the door and let out a deep sigh. Standing with my hands firmly pressed against the vanity counter top I looked in the mirror. I wish I could say I saw a man I was proud of. A man that wasn't overworked and angry, who's first words of the day were yelled at his son. I splashed some water on my face, combed my hair and brushed my teeth. Upon opening the door I was greeted by my son. He was scanning the hallway looking for anything he may have missed last night when he cleaned up for bed. I could tell my words had an impact on him. He looked up from the floor and said "I'm sorry daddy I didn't mean to make you hurt yourself.". Having calmed down while in the bathroom, I just looked at him and said "its okay I shouldn't have yelled at you its me that should be sorry". I told him "we are running late. Finish getting dressed and get downstairs so we can eat breakfast before I take you to school". I headed downstairs and started getting breakfast ready. Shortly after he came down and walked into the kitchen. He was wearing my hardhat and had my tape measure hooked onto his pocket. I asked him what he was doing and he simply replied "I'm going to work like you". I poured him some juice and set it on the table only to turn and see him now sitting in my chair, my cup of coffee in hand, using my cell phone to pretend he was talking on the phone. I looked at him laughing, and said "what are you doing you know that's my seat". He stared back at me with a look of annoyance, as if I was interrupting him on an actual phone call, and said "I'm pretending to be you". I poured him a bowl of cereal slid it onto the table at his usual chair and said "slide over Mr Important and eat your cereal we're running late". We sat in silence, him finishing every last fruit loop he could manage to get on his spoon, and I drinking every last drop of my twenty ounce mug of possibility, hoping to survive this morning. Looking at my watch and realizing we were now leaving much later then we ever have, I scooped up the dishes from the table threw them in the sink, grabbed my keys, and we were off.
By jered gatone4 years ago in Families
Tribute
It occurred to me once when my father passed away, quite a long time ago, that I should write some things down – wisdom or analogies or just plain sound advice that he had passed on to me. Apparently, I did because I just found it in an old box full of things that I don’t know what to do with. With love in my heart for him (he has been visiting me in my sleep quite a bit of late), I thought I’d share. Here goes.
By Rachael Hughes4 years ago in Families
Champ.
My dog is long passed, gone to another world where he runs free like the clouds across the sky but we made memories. We were an odd couple. I was a gangly stub of a string bean. Under five feet tall and under seventy pounds. He was a muscle freak. Half boxer half Rottweiler but I threw him around and I threw myself around with him. I used to knock him around pretty good, too. He would bound into me, "playing", so I had to get up and knock him around so he would understand that isn't how this can go. You'll get lost in this world if I let you get away with that. I told him he had to remember I look out for him, I know my way around better than he did. He did not understand how big he was, how much smaller I was and what the physics of all of that meant but I did. We had to put him outside because he was a bundle of energy. And with all his muscle he would have torn the house down. I remember all this. I remember watching exactly the way things were going. He knocked a few things in the basement down so my father built a pen. He jumped out of it after awhile. So my father put some boards over the top of it. He
By James M. Piehl4 years ago in Families
How to Succeed as a Parent
This year, my son, Eddie, started high school. He works hard and usually makes good decisions. He helps around the house, usually gets along with his sister, and is a responsible young man — someone we are becoming confident we can rely on. He made it onto a local competitive hockey team, has been working for me after school four nights a week, and secured a job at a local market on Saturdays and Sundays. He has been doing well in school (he knows he must in order to stay in hockey), and hangs out with his friends when he has free time. He’s a good boy (in my totally biased opinion).
By Jessica Gale Friesen4 years ago in Families
