When I was 16 in 1966 i was pretty confident I never wanted children. I’m one of five and . . . . not horrible but not what I saw my life being. I’m almost 67 and never once have been sad that I never had children. I’m basically Joan Crawford but likeable.
I’m excellent with some but not all of other people’s children since they don’t know I could lock them in a closet and throw in raw meat and beat them with a hanger.
I have neighbors with an almost 5 year old (Sept.) a current 2 year old (summer solstice) and a newbie (April). The newbie is a male potato — I’ll wait for a personality. The girls are amazing. Totally different and yet very similar. My buddy called the 2 yo a walking smile. True.
Today I was trying to get an old wire mesh up around my tomato bed. I heard the very clever: “are we invited?” voice. We have a “faerie path” which is basically moss between the two properties. The oldest has been told to ask permission.
Jeebus, how do you tell a kid no when she already helped make the garden? She used a garden fork to blend all the ingredients from the Square Foot Garden menu. The little one just wrecks stuff, chases my Roger the Cat, wants me to pick her up and wears a tutu.
I can send these kids home at any moment. After oranges and chat I do just that. Their mother was singing a beautiful folk song to the potato newbie. It broke my heart. The girls started following the music home.
When I read anything that is disheartening or think the same thoughts myself, I look across the yard. Those kids actually like me and I’m pretty sure they know I couldn’t deal with them for more than a few hours. Ok, we are going to try a camp out with me reading some horrifying book or watching a horrifying video then I’ll be making blueberry pancakes for breakfast. The overnight will be a disaster but I make damned brilliant pancakes for which they will return.
Really, not making a joke here — think of the children. Find one you don’t want to put in a box. One who you want to live your life to make their life happier. We need to fight like hell for these kids. They don’t deserve what is being shoved out of the former congress now shitehouse. They deserve a chance, respect, love.
Cheers, my dears (and deers).
Now hearing the cries of the noobie. I wish I could cry like that every day.