Valued Readers,
I swamped and can’t post until Monday at the earliest, but I have some good stuff brewing.
See you soon.
Love, S.
A writer's notes on family
by sue campbell
Valued Readers,
I swamped and can’t post until Monday at the earliest, but I have some good stuff brewing.
See you soon.
Love, S.
by sue campbell
by sue campbell
I am crafting this post from a tent in my backyard. There is a monstrous mosquito clinging to the outside of the screen door. Nora is finally asleep beside me. A fire engine just went by, sirens blaring, and made the neighborhood dogs howl. She slept right through it.
Some lovely things I remember about childhood:
I am ecstatic to make these memories for Nora. Even if it means peeing in my own backyard. If you’ll excuse me…
by sue campbell
Bedtime, you’ve been living hell to me.
You’ve busted me ever since this child turned three.
I’ve seen her stall and I’ve seen her cry.
Every night I keep asking why.
Bedtime, I hate every minute of you.
You’ve cut me and you’ve scarred me through and through
And I’ll walk out a wiser, weaker woman;
Little Miss Toddler, you can’t understand.
Bedtime, there is so much good you could do
Do you think she’ll be sleeping when we’re through?
You bend my heart and mind and you warp my soul,
her desperate pleas turn my blood a little cold.
Bedtime, may you rot and burn in hell.
May this child sleep and may I live to tell.
May all the screaming not reach the neighborhood.
And may all my reasoning one day do some good.
Bedtime, I hate every minute of you.
If there is no music running through your head as you read this, click here.
by sue campbell
Touching my husband’s back is like setting your hand on a card table. It is swollen and hardened into a flat surface. He threw his back out 10 days ago while sweeping the driveway. He’s limping, in pain, cranky. But he’s doing his stretches and taking it easy. We’re hoping he’ll be on the mend soon.
In the meantime, absolutely everything is left up to me. All Nora care. All house care. All animal care. All cooking. The lawn has not been mowed in two weeks. We’re running out of fresh laundry. This morning Nora arrived at school with a blob of paint on her cheek that was there when I picked her up yesterday. I am not getting to any of the things I love to do, like read other people’s blogs and write my own.
I am left with a profound respect for single parents. Raising healthy, happy kids while working and taking care of a home is a feat we should all admire. If you know any single parents who are holding it all together, please deliver this message from me, “You’re amazing.” And offer to babysit for them tomorrow night.
by sue campbell