Comment

Comment by booklover on January 20, 2013 at 8:24am

Ruth, that's cute about your cats!  Ours get a treat in the a.m., and they congregate in the kitchen meowing until I get the treats on the ground!  When they are finished, THEN the dog gets to come out of her 'room' (kennel) and go outside.

I feel very lucky that I got to stay home with my kids from the time they were born until now really.  I am going to look for something part-time, but it has to be the right job.  We achieved this by being frugal, but we never went without.  That has been my 'career.' :)~ Melinda

Comment by Ruth Anthony-Gardner on January 19, 2013 at 11:52pm

My two cats want bedtime treats, not stories. Then in the morning they're frantic for their quarter can of fancy feast "breakfast" (each), even though there's always dry kibble available. They get the same wet food treat every evening when we eat our dinner, and they're sooo eager. They came from a home where their food was always dry. It's a peaceful life in our house, where the big drama is cat food.

I've been so lucky in my life, with great parents and spouses. Not so much in jobs. Thanks for sharing your stories.

Comment by Lillie on January 19, 2013 at 10:43pm

Thanks, Booklover.  There are a lot of disfunctional families in this world and I don't know but what religion doesn't contribute to this.

Comment by booklover on January 19, 2013 at 7:43pm

Thank you my Dear Friend Joan, and love the bedtime story cat my Wonderful Friend Steph!!!

Comment by Steph S. on January 19, 2013 at 4:50pm

Comment by Joan Denoo on January 19, 2013 at 1:54pm

Melinda, your story is most compelling, full of the human frailties that bring so much misery into the world. Your Mom clearly broke the "bitch" cycle and she has strength of character to create herself in her own image; she sounds like a woman with great heart, generosity and compassion that children so badly need. 

Perhaps your mother was attracted to the "playboy" aspect of your father even as she has sense enough to be able to see reality and make whatever adjustments she needed. A truly noble character. She offers you a good example for the troubled times we approach in this day. Be realistic, recognize others' flaws and develop resilience. 

Of course you had "panic attacks!" That is a perfectly normal coping strategy, especially for young children. Some people are never able to learn how to manage such experiences throughout a lifetime. With solid reasoning, loving yourself, and perhaps help from a therapist, and certainly with a loving husband, such attacks can be managed. What we learn as children to get through the stressers are often dysfunctional in adults. 

Growing up is a process of learning to overcome dysfunctional coping strategies and learning how to respect yourself and your story. As you learn these, you share your life with a loving partner and children, thus breaking old patterns. 

Please give your mother and husband a hug from me and tell them how much I appreciate their being in your life. 

Comment by Joan Denoo on January 19, 2013 at 1:38pm

Comment by Ian Mason on January 19, 2013 at 10:57am

Some very heartwarming accounts of brave lives lived in defiance of adversity. They give others hope and encouragement. Thank you so much.

Comment by Steph S. on January 19, 2013 at 10:44am

Love the Ikea cat and Tiger photo booklover.

Thanks for sharing your family stories with us.

I enjoy reading about your daily lives here.

Thanks so much for sharing.

Comment by booklover on January 19, 2013 at 9:20am

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