Dec
07
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I love my daughters.
Chelsea wrote an article about our relationship for Mia Magazine. I am proud of her skill in writing it and grateful she saw me as being helpful (overall) in her growing up years.
Mia Magazine (click on the magazine image at the bottom of the link page to read it. Go to ‘My Relationships’).
Drawing by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily blog.
Quote is an Irish Proverb
Jul
28
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Day 3 of ‘Aging Week’. My father is on the roller coaster that is old age, bone breaks and lung congestion. Not an easy thing for him to deal with. His efforts are continuing to cause me to think about the whole process of aging.
I remember when this quote made sense for the first time. I was talking to someone much younger than myself. I realized that he didn’t have the flow of time I had. He had gone through 25 years of life, and for him to consider the next 25 he had to project. I, on the other hand, had all 50 years to remember. I had the age of 30 in my memory, the age of 20, the age of 40. I hadn’t given up any of those years, I had just added to them.
It helped me realize why younger people can so often not understand older people. They simply have to take a much greater leap than when an older person has to understand a younger person. They haven’t lived that age yet. Of course, many older people forget what it was like to be young, but that is an issue for another blog entry!
quote by Madeleine L’engle, Author
May
15
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I am one of those parents and I know many others. It isn’t always
a sad thing, not always an argument or drama that has led to the
child being away and uncommunicative. Sometimes it is that child
inventing themselves, and the only way they know how to do it is
on their own. Maybe it isn’t that the parent is too controlling or
overbearing. Maybe it is that the child is too weak, too easily led and
they know it. They are being courageous in stepping away. The child
in them wants to stay with their parents, they want the protection
and love. But they know they won’t find their own strength inside
that home, they must venture out and find it where they will.
It isn’t easy for a parent to watch this. They want to protect, they want
to guide, they want to participate. And they want to be loved. But
to get the true love of an adult child coming back to you after their
prodigal journey might just be worth it because you will have a truly
unique and real person in your life, one you helped create not only
by protecting and raising, but by letting go as well.
I don’t mean to downplay the trauma and hurt and fear that can
accompany a child’s departure. I have had that in my life and it
is hard. But one can have hope if they choose. Maybe a blind hope,
maybe a well reasoned one, but hope nonetheless.
…………………………………………………………………………..
Many thanks to all who came to my opening last night. And special thanks
to those who bought the 5 pieces. If you are interested in seeing which
ones are still available, go to my website and the ones that are sold will
be obvious.
Absorbent Ideas Exhibition Don’t delay, buy the one you want!
Don’t forget also that any napkin you see can be printed on a coffee mug.
An even greater thanks to my wonderful family! Linda, who made such yummy
goodies, Chelsea for doing the same and playing guitar and singing, and Caitlin,
who did heavy lifting and table organizing for me.