Comments on: All my children http://www.laferle.com/2010/05/all-my-children/ a window on the writing life Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:21:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Cindy La Ferle http://www.laferle.com/2010/05/all-my-children/comment-page-1/#comment-12562 Cindy La Ferle Wed, 12 May 2010 13:21:55 +0000 http://www.laferle.com/?p=10979#comment-12562 Everyone, thank you so much for your warm comments on this story. As I said in the intro, it's one of my favorites and I am always thrilled when it "speaks" to other moms as well. It was a very special time in my life, and I am so much richer for having these wonderful young people in my life. Several of them sent notes on Mother's Day after reading this again, God love 'em! :-) Everyone, thank you so much for your warm comments on this story. As I said in the intro, it’s one of my favorites and I am always thrilled when it “speaks” to other moms as well. It was a very special time in my life, and I am so much richer for having these wonderful young people in my life. Several of them sent notes on Mother’s Day after reading this again, God love ‘em! :-)

]]> By: Meagan Francis http://www.laferle.com/2010/05/all-my-children/comment-page-1/#comment-12556 Meagan Francis Tue, 11 May 2010 13:44:07 +0000 http://www.laferle.com/?p=10979#comment-12556 Cindy, this is beautiful! Even though I've got five kids...and a lot of that chaos and, um, creativity is built-in...I still want to be the house the kids bring their friends to. You're right too that learning to love--or even just tolerate--other people's kids is a worthwhile lesson in patience. Sometimes other people's kids' quirks can be harder to handle than my own kids', but it's humbling when I realize that my kids are "other people's kids" to everyone but me. I can only hope that their friends' parents welcome them as openly and warmly as you have your son's friends. Cindy, this is beautiful! Even though I’ve got five kids…and a lot of that chaos and, um, creativity is built-in…I still want to be the house the kids bring their friends to. You’re right too that learning to love–or even just tolerate–other people’s kids is a worthwhile lesson in patience. Sometimes other people’s kids’ quirks can be harder to handle than my own kids’, but it’s humbling when I realize that my kids are “other people’s kids” to everyone but me. I can only hope that their friends’ parents welcome them as openly and warmly as you have your son’s friends.

]]> By: Bridgette http://www.laferle.com/2010/05/all-my-children/comment-page-1/#comment-12550 Bridgette Tue, 11 May 2010 00:48:23 +0000 http://www.laferle.com/?p=10979#comment-12550 Seeing as how my girls are 10 years apart, I have 2 only children. I agree with you, I spent a lot of time, effort, and money to assure that my girls would experience the give and take, occasional squabbles, and camaraderie of a sibling. I kept the freezer stocked with popsicles, the pantry with fruit snacks and I drove a van to transport the bunch on outings. Our home was the gathering place. And despite needing the carpets cleaned and dirty hand prints on the walls, I would do it all again:) Seeing as how my girls are 10 years apart, I have 2 only children. I agree with you, I spent a lot of time, effort, and money to assure that my girls would experience the give and take, occasional squabbles, and camaraderie of a sibling.
I kept the freezer stocked with popsicles, the pantry with fruit snacks and I drove a van to transport the bunch on outings. Our home was the gathering place. And despite needing the carpets cleaned and dirty hand prints on the walls, I would do it all again:)

]]> By: deb http://www.laferle.com/2010/05/all-my-children/comment-page-1/#comment-12539 deb Mon, 10 May 2010 02:46:15 +0000 http://www.laferle.com/?p=10979#comment-12539 more than, oops more than, oops

]]> By: deb http://www.laferle.com/2010/05/all-my-children/comment-page-1/#comment-12538 deb Mon, 10 May 2010 02:45:43 +0000 http://www.laferle.com/?p=10979#comment-12538 blood isn't thicker indeed. Your father was a wise man. and as the mother of more than an only, I've embraced this lifestyle often. Granted my kids are content and entertained with each other, but our home seems to be a gathering place. I wouldn't change this. Someday I will miss all the life. I know. I hope you had a glorious day, Cindy. You are a genuine nurturing soul it seems. blood isn’t thicker indeed. Your father was a wise man.
and as the mother of more than an only, I’ve embraced this lifestyle often. Granted my kids are content and entertained with each other, but our home seems to be a gathering place. I wouldn’t change this. Someday I will miss all the life. I know.

I hope you had a glorious day, Cindy. You are a genuine nurturing soul it seems.

]]> By: Cindy http://www.laferle.com/2010/05/all-my-children/comment-page-1/#comment-12536 Cindy Mon, 10 May 2010 01:46:42 +0000 http://www.laferle.com/?p=10979#comment-12536 Thanks, Joanna! I am an "only" too, and was taught early on that friends can be family-- and that it's important to build community everywhere we go. My dad always used to say that blood isn't necessarily thicker than water, and that it's essential to feel at home in the world. It was the greatest lesson my folks taught me. -- CL Thanks, Joanna! I am an “only” too, and was taught early on that friends can be family– and that it’s important to build community everywhere we go. My dad always used to say that blood isn’t necessarily thicker than water, and that it’s essential to feel at home in the world. It was the greatest lesson my folks taught me. — CL

]]> By: joanna jenkins http://www.laferle.com/2010/05/all-my-children/comment-page-1/#comment-12534 joanna jenkins Mon, 10 May 2010 00:44:18 +0000 http://www.laferle.com/?p=10979#comment-12534 Well said Cindy. My godson is an "only" and play dates and a welcome house are sooooo important. Hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day! jj Well said Cindy. My godson is an “only” and play dates and a welcome house are sooooo important.

Hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day!
jj

]]> By: Renae Meyst Johnson http://www.laferle.com/2010/05/all-my-children/comment-page-1/#comment-12528 Renae Meyst Johnson Sun, 09 May 2010 15:23:49 +0000 http://www.laferle.com/?p=10979#comment-12528 It brought tears to my eyes as it is something I wish I could have done with my daughters, but as a single parent, working full time it made it more difficult to be able to entertain their friends. But they both do this and do a wonderful job of it. Thank you for an uplifting story. Renae Meyst Johnson It brought tears to my eyes as it is something I wish I could have done with my daughters, but as a single parent, working full time it made it more difficult to be able to entertain their friends. But they both do this and do a wonderful job of it. Thank you for an uplifting story.

Renae Meyst Johnson

]]> By: Nancy http://www.laferle.com/2010/05/all-my-children/comment-page-1/#comment-12527 Nancy Sun, 09 May 2010 14:28:23 +0000 http://www.laferle.com/?p=10979#comment-12527 Beautiful memories indeed. So true, by the time we are getting a glimpse of "how to parent", and sort through what really matters in our daily lives with our children, we have mounted up lost days that can't be relived. I have so many wonderful memories, and just as many wishes that time would stand still and allow me to breath in the moments I hurried through. Happy Mothers Day Cindy ((hugs)) Beautiful memories indeed.

So true, by the time we are getting a glimpse of “how to parent”, and sort through what really matters in our daily lives with our children, we have mounted up lost days that can’t be relived.

I have so many wonderful memories, and just as many wishes that time would stand still and allow me to breath in the moments I hurried through.

Happy Mothers Day Cindy ((hugs))

]]> By: brett http://www.laferle.com/2010/05/all-my-children/comment-page-1/#comment-12526 brett Sun, 09 May 2010 14:24:44 +0000 http://www.laferle.com/?p=10979#comment-12526 cindy, i love this piece. it's mother's day at 7:30 and my sons are entertaining two friends who slept over. i love the messy bigness of it all. cindy, i love this piece. it’s mother’s day at 7:30 and my sons are entertaining two friends who slept over. i love the messy bigness of it all.

]]>