parents
The boundless love a parent has for their child is matched only by their capacity to embarrass them.
The Pear Tree
She took calculated steps in the direction of the main door, looking around carefully to avoid any objects that could cause noise in her tread. The floor of the ancestral house cracking with the lightest of movements. Her breath was the only sound hitting on her ears. She’d secretly wished the rustling of the crispy leaves would stop scarring her.
By Iqra Naqvi4 years ago in Families
The Soldier's Son
Alexander sat high in the pear tree. Juices from the fruit dripped down his hands, leaving a sticky line. He sat in the tree and licked his hands clean. He was seven and a half years old and in exactly one week he would enter the second grade. But for now, he was content to sit in the tree and eat all the pears his stomach could handle.
By Diana Anderson4 years ago in Families
I Don't Yell at My Kids for the Same Reason I Don't Yell at Yours
As an administrator, I’ve evaluated scores of teachers. As an instructional coach, I’ve trained dozens with non-evaluative conversations aimed at improving their craft. I’ve built hundreds of relationships this way, and learned that doing so is an art.
By Jenny Mundy-Castle4 years ago in Families
Seeking Closure
Zalia Valyri-Montique was not expecting visitors, let alone the one she received that day. A man with white hair and piercing blue eyes, with a telltale, square jaw. She knew it well; she had that same jawline. Her father had had it as well, before he vanished. And now, so did this look alike of her re he vanished. And now, so did this look alike of her father. He was old, older than her father had been when he vanished. Wrinkled, weathered by his years, he looked like he needed the cane he leant on, but she knew he could probably discard it. That, or he hid a weapon in it to maximize its use.
By Kamryn Norland4 years ago in Families
Dear Pops
Dear Pops, First off, I love you. Always have, will continue to do so until the next life. Thankful for the man you are because it has helped shaped me in more ways than I can think. The purpose of this piece was to try and openly come to terms with the way things turned out in my upbringing.
By The Omnipotent Deity4 years ago in Families
REMEMBERING
Today is a great day. I’m so excited. I am well suited for the task. The sharp wind feels like slicing ice across the subtle, small, open spaces on my face between my hat and scarf. Everything else are no match for the rest of my body. My mom told me I had to layer up. So, she even helped me put on my long johns underneath my jeans and sweater. My coat is even insulated with a fleece underlaying. Anyway..., that’s what mom calls it. I don’t like to be cold. Mom doesn’t want me to be either. Afterwards, mom said she’s going to cook her famous chicken noodle soup. I can’t wait. The only catch is I must do well. Dad will be home later on. I can’t wait to brag to him how my first lesson went.
By Beautiful Intelligence4 years ago in Families
Adventures in Homeschooling
Growing up in rural Montana I occasionally heard about kids who were homeschooled. The ones I met were kids who lived on farms many miles from the nearest school, but I’m not sure whether or not that was the primary reason their parents had for homeschooling. I remember having a sense of wonder and fascination about it, though. I daydreamed about being homeschooled myself and being able to avoid all the awkward social interactions and embarrassment of growing up in a small town where everyone knew more about other people’s personal business than they probably should. It seemed like a far-off fantasy at the time, though, because it wasn’t very common back then as far as I knew.
By Dawn Salois4 years ago in Families
