We have quite a few neighbors who are childless couples here in this mountain community. There is an unbridgeable gulf between them and those of us who have children. They have pets and can “therefore relate to being parents “ but they really don’t. Parents are only as happy as their saddest child.
Our younger son is just now climbing out of a pretty bad hole that he was in since he was discharged from Air Force. PTSD, and now, five years later beginning to emerge.
Wow -- I read through it and around inside it several times and kept finding new shades of meaning and mystery ... "you're still losing teeth" ... "panic" ... "so many kinds of masks" ... and that last line. Magnificent and touching.
You sound like the kind of mother I often wished for when I was growing up. I’m so glad you choose to share your work with the world, and I hope you keep doing it for as long as it brings you joy.
Thank you so much, Lizzy. I’m honored. Like I commented to my mom, I feel weird about accepting your lovely compliment because my older children deserved so much more wisdom and tenderness from me than they got. But I’m trying to learn and give back some of that missing kindness now.
I love writing here so much. It’s a daily gift. I’m so glad we’re “here” together 💛.
Thank you, Lisa. It’s been good for me to work on this poem and watch myself parenting her at the same time. I have a long way to go, but I feel like I’m learning 💛.
Oh Mom. Thank you. I’m still so impatient so much of the time, so it feels weird accepting compliments (and I wish I had had more wisdom when my big kids were little). But again, thank you 💛.
I learned so much about mothering from my daughters with their little ones....impatience was rife throughout my upbringing. Must accept, forgive, and open to a greater love, always.
Such a tender description of the desire to keep a child safe, the effort to protect them, and the knowledge that you can only do so much. Thank you, Margaret.
We have quite a few neighbors who are childless couples here in this mountain community. There is an unbridgeable gulf between them and those of us who have children. They have pets and can “therefore relate to being parents “ but they really don’t. Parents are only as happy as their saddest child.
“Parents are only as happy as their saddest child”—I’ve heard that before and it really is true.
Our younger son is just now climbing out of a pretty bad hole that he was in since he was discharged from Air Force. PTSD, and now, five years later beginning to emerge.
I can only imagine how hard PTSD must be. I’m so glad to hear he is climbing out.
Thanks Margaret.
Wow -- I read through it and around inside it several times and kept finding new shades of meaning and mystery ... "you're still losing teeth" ... "panic" ... "so many kinds of masks" ... and that last line. Magnificent and touching.
Thank you so much, Jonathan.
You sound like the kind of mother I often wished for when I was growing up. I’m so glad you choose to share your work with the world, and I hope you keep doing it for as long as it brings you joy.
Thank you so much, Lizzy. I’m honored. Like I commented to my mom, I feel weird about accepting your lovely compliment because my older children deserved so much more wisdom and tenderness from me than they got. But I’m trying to learn and give back some of that missing kindness now.
I love writing here so much. It’s a daily gift. I’m so glad we’re “here” together 💛.
as parents we mitigate, but cant eliminate, risk
Yes, dave. It’s taken me so long to learn this, and I’m STILL trying to eliminate risk 😵💫😵💫😵💫.
parenting is an amazing journey! i applaud your courage in sharing the love and challenges we all face
Thank you again, dave!
This is so beautiful and tender Margaret :)
Thank you, Lisa. It’s been good for me to work on this poem and watch myself parenting her at the same time. I have a long way to go, but I feel like I’m learning 💛.
‘Only a little safe’ 💔
Yeah. That hurt to write.
As Lizzy said...you are the kind of mother I wished for growing up. She gets the supreme cream of love from Dan and you....I marvel everytime I visit.
Oh Mom. Thank you. I’m still so impatient so much of the time, so it feels weird accepting compliments (and I wish I had had more wisdom when my big kids were little). But again, thank you 💛.
I learned so much about mothering from my daughters with their little ones....impatience was rife throughout my upbringing. Must accept, forgive, and open to a greater love, always.
How lovely. Thank you for this.
Thank you for reading it, LeeAnn 💛.
Such a tender description of the desire to keep a child safe, the effort to protect them, and the knowledge that you can only do so much. Thank you, Margaret.
Thank you for reading it, Mary 💛.