“Young as she is, the stuff/ Of her life is a great cargo, and some of it heavy”*

by chuckofish

Yesterday was the 35th anniversary of my mother’s death.

As a child I was happiest sitting on her lap–only in this picture she has just taken my fingers out of my mouth to pose for a family portrait. Also my father has just yelled at my brother to quit horsing around and the moment is frought with emotion. Isn’t that always the way. Families.

We do the best we can.

It is good to remember that the fate of our children does not lie with us (nor the fate of our parents) but with Our Father in heaven.

We do the best we can.

I am grateful to have had my mother for 32 years.

Looking for something to read? Here’s a list of eight examples of “gentle parenting in classic literature”.

And bonus: American Pie explained.

*Richard Wilbur (read the whole poem here.)