Tag: children

Posted on

300 Writing Prompts: #97

“You have a child and you have written one piece of advice that will be carried in his/her pocket for life. What is that advice?” Trust your instincts. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve made serious mistakes when I haven’t trusted my own instincts, or when I’ve allowed other people to make decisions … Continue reading 300 Writing Prompts: #97

Posted on

The Waiting

As Tom Petty so adequately put it, “the waiting is the hardest part.” And it’s definitely true when you’re a parent waiting for your child to go into surgery, especially when that child is 6 years old and doesn’t understand what’s going to happen. In fact, to this point Madeline is soaking in the fact … Continue reading The Waiting

Posted on

Chatting With Lexi: On Fears

we-all-fear-the-unknownFor a child who is remarkably self-assured it’s curious that Lexi also has a plethora of fears, ranging far and wide (and even into some territory where I just scratch my head and wonder “Huh?”) for better or for worse. Of course, though, she has no fear of strangers, and will indeed tell them her life story if given a chance in the line at Wal-Mart. She also isn’t afraid of failure, even though in many ways she’s a perfectionist. But the things she fears she REALLY fears. It’s like she freezes solid when the subjects even come up.

And it’s at those moments that she reminds me of… me.

Me: Lexi, I need you to go upstairs to put away the toys you got out.

Lexi: But Dad, I CAN’T GO UP THERE.

Me: Why not? It’s just for a minute to put those toys away.

Lexi: But I’m SCARED.

Me: There’s nothing to be scared of. Your mother and I are right down here.

Lexi: But I’m still SCARED. I don’t want to go up there.

Me: Well, you got out the toys, so you need to put them away. You’re going to have to go up there anyway.

Lexi: I can’t do it. I JUST CAN’T.

Me: What are you afraid of, though? Why are you so scared to go up there by yourself?

Lexi: Because she’s up there.

Me: Who?

Lexi: The gh-gh-ghost.

Me: Oh my. Lexi, ghosts aren’t real.

Lexi: You don’t know that!

Me: Uh, yeah, I know that. Ghosts aren’t real. And even if they were they can’t hurt you.

Lexi: That’s not what they say on Teen Titans. Continue reading “Chatting With Lexi: On Fears”

Posted on

Six Candles

A sixth birthday can be somewhat daunting. I mean, it’s the first one that you will probably remember for the rest of your life. You’re in school, too, so you’ve got little school friends who are actually your friends as opposed to children of your parents’ friends. And because you’re in school it behooves you … Continue reading Six Candles

Posted on

6 Years Ago…

I raced down the road in my Santa Fe, intent on getting there in time, but still with two eyes firmly on the road, which was getting slicker by the moment as the snow continued to come down, following the sleet that had landed earlier. But I had gotten the call, the one that told … Continue reading 6 Years Ago…