I know it’s not meant to be a happy story, but it’s heartwarming to see the world through a child’s eyes. The most important things are a popsicle and seeing the ducks. So sweet. I understand the boy but I also understand the mom. Sometimes it’s hard for everyone.
I’m glad it landed there for you. That’s what I hoped. The mind of a child is so flexible and forgiving. It takes egregious harm to truly damage a child.
If there’s one universal fact about parenting it’s that we all fail our children to varying degrees. It’s just too damned hard a job to do 24/7 and al aye be your best self. That said, I feel pretty confident in saying I bet you are a great mom Julie.
Working with children who just want to be seen breaks my heart countless times a day. This is so very poignant Ben, beautiful and sad all at once...
I am by no means the perfect mum, I am not sure there even is such a thing but I try hard to be close to one at home and in class - how can I not be when I can see what's missing...
I don't think I have ever scolded either of my beloved children without apologising afterwards, each time I saw their little faces crumple it felt like a nail in my heart... children see and feel everything in the here and now, the future is just too big for them to fathom "This is the worst day ever." can happen ten times an hour if they feel unloved, or unfairly treated, they don't understand the reasons - how could they?
Parenting is the hardest job ever, being young and not understanding also...
Thank you, Susie. How lucky are those kids to have you as a teacher? I’ve learned so much about myself in raising children. I think if you try to do it right, you can’t help but figure out a lot of stuff about yourself and what made you. Then you have the opportunity to do things just a little bit better for the children in your charge for however, long that lasts.
Only thing missing is the “you make life so unfair” quote, but I suppose the boy would need about 10 years to reach that phase of frustration with him mom.
Ben, I love these character views. This one was particularly really well done. What am I saying? They’ve all been really well done!
Thanks, CB! That’s very kind of you. I’m enjoying doing this series. It’s good exercise and gives me enough bandwidth to keep making progress on the new novel.
Awwwww! This is so sweet. I want to scoop this little guy up and bring popsicles and far-away California and the dad it holds all into his reach. “This is the worst day ever.” Such a great reminder of how present kids are, how things are big. All things.
I wish I could take credit for "it's the worst day ever" but that's a direct lift from our little Bella. She says it at least once a day in between explosions of pure, unadulterated joy. Thanks for reading, Kimberly.
This was hard to read. All in the series have been hard to read, to be honest, but this one is a bit too close to home... Parenting is hard. Like Julie, I hope I wasn't that mother often but for sure I was her sometimes. Although I always made sure I apologised to my daughter, I do sometimes wish I could do it all over, with more patience, more understanding.
Seeing things from the perspective of the child... heartbreaking.
It is incredibly hard to be the kind of parent we want to be every day. You don’t ever get a free pass. I’m sorry these have been hard to read, but I appreciate you showing up every week. Thank you, Sara. 🙏
I know it’s not meant to be a happy story, but it’s heartwarming to see the world through a child’s eyes. The most important things are a popsicle and seeing the ducks. So sweet. I understand the boy but I also understand the mom. Sometimes it’s hard for everyone.
I’m glad it landed there for you. That’s what I hoped. The mind of a child is so flexible and forgiving. It takes egregious harm to truly damage a child.
Also, no matter how loving a parent is, too much sugar is not good 😅.
This broke my heart. I may have been that woman at times. I hope not but let’s be honest.
If there’s one universal fact about parenting it’s that we all fail our children to varying degrees. It’s just too damned hard a job to do 24/7 and al aye be your best self. That said, I feel pretty confident in saying I bet you are a great mom Julie.
Me too, Julie, me too. Sometimes, it's just hard.
Yup, same. 🙏 thanks for reading, Sara.
Don’t be so hard on yourself, Julie.
Working with children who just want to be seen breaks my heart countless times a day. This is so very poignant Ben, beautiful and sad all at once...
I am by no means the perfect mum, I am not sure there even is such a thing but I try hard to be close to one at home and in class - how can I not be when I can see what's missing...
I don't think I have ever scolded either of my beloved children without apologising afterwards, each time I saw their little faces crumple it felt like a nail in my heart... children see and feel everything in the here and now, the future is just too big for them to fathom "This is the worst day ever." can happen ten times an hour if they feel unloved, or unfairly treated, they don't understand the reasons - how could they?
Parenting is the hardest job ever, being young and not understanding also...
Thank you, Susie. How lucky are those kids to have you as a teacher? I’ve learned so much about myself in raising children. I think if you try to do it right, you can’t help but figure out a lot of stuff about yourself and what made you. Then you have the opportunity to do things just a little bit better for the children in your charge for however, long that lasts.
I am not sure any of us can go too far wrong when we love them with all our hearts Ben, Love is everything to children, and hugs!
Only thing missing is the “you make life so unfair” quote, but I suppose the boy would need about 10 years to reach that phase of frustration with him mom.
Ben, I love these character views. This one was particularly really well done. What am I saying? They’ve all been really well done!
Thanks, CB! That’s very kind of you. I’m enjoying doing this series. It’s good exercise and gives me enough bandwidth to keep making progress on the new novel.
Awwwww! This is so sweet. I want to scoop this little guy up and bring popsicles and far-away California and the dad it holds all into his reach. “This is the worst day ever.” Such a great reminder of how present kids are, how things are big. All things.
I wish I could take credit for "it's the worst day ever" but that's a direct lift from our little Bella. She says it at least once a day in between explosions of pure, unadulterated joy. Thanks for reading, Kimberly.
This is pretty adorable. Love the end, that classic childhood ability to just immediately dissociate into something else.
They do have an amazing ability to do that, right? Thanks for reading.
Oof, parenting is hard & being a child is hard, too
Both are true. Thanks for reading, Robin.
This was hard to read. All in the series have been hard to read, to be honest, but this one is a bit too close to home... Parenting is hard. Like Julie, I hope I wasn't that mother often but for sure I was her sometimes. Although I always made sure I apologised to my daughter, I do sometimes wish I could do it all over, with more patience, more understanding.
Seeing things from the perspective of the child... heartbreaking.
It is incredibly hard to be the kind of parent we want to be every day. You don’t ever get a free pass. I’m sorry these have been hard to read, but I appreciate you showing up every week. Thank you, Sara. 🙏
Well written, as always, but this story made me sad, sad, sad… 😢
Thank you, Rose.