Oh, Mary. This one hits close to home. As the mother of a son and a former teacher of middle school boys, this one hits. As a mother who once let her daughter slip, this hits. One time, when my kids were 3, we took them to the Lake Chelan street fair. My daughter was just behind me, and I kept turning my head to make sure she was still there. Each time she was, until the time she wasn't. Then followed the longest 7 or so minutes of my life. It all turned out fine, but I'm not exaggerating when I say that I was never the same again. I remember making the tunnel with the other parents at the end of the soccer games, and I so wish the version of the world we all made for our sons then was the one they grew into as adults. This is a beautiful, if wrenching, pocket of prose. Feeling so lucky and grateful to still have my kids in this world, heartbreaking as it is, on this Mother's Day.
Happy Mother’s Day Rita! What a lovely, thoughtful comment! Thank you for sharing those stories. I have similar moments and was also so grateful to spend the day with my kids.
Dear Mary, thank you for sharing all of this from a place of love, honesty, and tenderness. As your community and our world continues to bear the pain of loss and the anxieties of losses to come, your words are a refuge. And they are a reminder of our not-aloneness as humans living fragile lives on a planet where horrible tragedies happen all the time and in the blink of an eye. I’m grateful to find this pocket of truth-telling and compassion this (and every) Sunday morning. Sending lots of love ❤️
We get blamed when we hover too close; we get blamed when we give kids the freedom they need and then something happens to them. Both types of blame come from a need people have to justify themselves—that they would do it all right, that it’s actually possible to do it right, so that nothing bad will ever happen in the world except to people who deserved it.
Thank you Mary for reminding us all to offer grace and love when the unthinkable happens.
It is so important when raising kids to give space and allow them to grow into themselves. We just can't protect them from bad situation and bad choices because they belong to themselves. Even when they are children.
You connect ideas and poems and other authors writings so well to your ideas.
Thank you for sharing. My heart goes out to the family of the boy who jumped ans to his companions who lived. They will feel the weight of their choices forever.
And who among us hasn't made such a choice. Most of us have just got lucky.
Sweet Mary. What a beautiful and heartfelt message that you have shared. You are an inspirational writer. One who I deeply admire and respect. Your message touches me to my core. Thank you for sharing your perspective and passion. Sending you a big, warm hug. 🤗 ❤️🌻 May you have a beautiful Mothers Day!
Beautiful, painful post, Mary. My instinct is to be wildly overprotective and I’m trying to change. Actually, I’m being forced to change, as my boys are growing up. It’s so hard. Just yesterday, my 15yo said “You worry too much” and I told him how my 80yo aunt once rang around the family, panicking because she couldn’t get hold of her 60yo son. (He was playing golf.)
So much love. And so much sorrow. Thank you for sharing your heart with us. The fortunate among us sometimes forget that life is fragile, and so precious. May we open our arms to all who are hurting and heartbroken. Come and get your love.
Oh, Mary. This one hits close to home. As the mother of a son and a former teacher of middle school boys, this one hits. As a mother who once let her daughter slip, this hits. One time, when my kids were 3, we took them to the Lake Chelan street fair. My daughter was just behind me, and I kept turning my head to make sure she was still there. Each time she was, until the time she wasn't. Then followed the longest 7 or so minutes of my life. It all turned out fine, but I'm not exaggerating when I say that I was never the same again. I remember making the tunnel with the other parents at the end of the soccer games, and I so wish the version of the world we all made for our sons then was the one they grew into as adults. This is a beautiful, if wrenching, pocket of prose. Feeling so lucky and grateful to still have my kids in this world, heartbreaking as it is, on this Mother's Day.
Happy Mother’s Day Rita! What a lovely, thoughtful comment! Thank you for sharing those stories. I have similar moments and was also so grateful to spend the day with my kids.
Dear Mary, thank you for sharing all of this from a place of love, honesty, and tenderness. As your community and our world continues to bear the pain of loss and the anxieties of losses to come, your words are a refuge. And they are a reminder of our not-aloneness as humans living fragile lives on a planet where horrible tragedies happen all the time and in the blink of an eye. I’m grateful to find this pocket of truth-telling and compassion this (and every) Sunday morning. Sending lots of love ❤️
Claire, what a beautiful comment…love that pocket of compassion. Thank you!
We get blamed when we hover too close; we get blamed when we give kids the freedom they need and then something happens to them. Both types of blame come from a need people have to justify themselves—that they would do it all right, that it’s actually possible to do it right, so that nothing bad will ever happen in the world except to people who deserved it.
Beautiful. So tenderly handled - thank you. Hope you've enjoyed a memorable Mother's Day (see a heart emoji : )
I did! I hope you had a beautiful Mother’s Day too Karen! Thank you for your kind comments.
Thank you Mary for reminding us all to offer grace and love when the unthinkable happens.
It is so important when raising kids to give space and allow them to grow into themselves. We just can't protect them from bad situation and bad choices because they belong to themselves. Even when they are children.
You connect ideas and poems and other authors writings so well to your ideas.
Thank you for sharing. My heart goes out to the family of the boy who jumped ans to his companions who lived. They will feel the weight of their choices forever.
And who among us hasn't made such a choice. Most of us have just got lucky.
Yes! Beautiful and wise thoughts.
Sweet Mary. What a beautiful and heartfelt message that you have shared. You are an inspirational writer. One who I deeply admire and respect. Your message touches me to my core. Thank you for sharing your perspective and passion. Sending you a big, warm hug. 🤗 ❤️🌻 May you have a beautiful Mothers Day!
I’m so glad. I hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day too! Thank you for the kind comment.
I hadn’t heard about the Yasuhara boy and the bridge 😢🥺 Tragic.
I also absolutely loathe the question “where were the parents?” whenever a kid does something wrong.
Beautiful, painful post, Mary. My instinct is to be wildly overprotective and I’m trying to change. Actually, I’m being forced to change, as my boys are growing up. It’s so hard. Just yesterday, my 15yo said “You worry too much” and I told him how my 80yo aunt once rang around the family, panicking because she couldn’t get hold of her 60yo son. (He was playing golf.)
Thanks for reading Keris. I go in and out of phases with worry. I’m cool until I’m not. https://apoemaday.tumblr.com/post/175408809725/i-worried
May we sing more and worry less. Thank for reading!
Sing more! Worry less! Yes!
So much love. And so much sorrow. Thank you for sharing your heart with us. The fortunate among us sometimes forget that life is fragile, and so precious. May we open our arms to all who are hurting and heartbroken. Come and get your love.
Oh I love how you tied that back in. ♥️
Beautiful.
Thanks Dottie!