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Will Willingham's avatar

I have always loved this piece.

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LL's avatar

oh, thank you. that means a lot. :)

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Sandra Heska King's avatar

"The wall is hung with a long string of identical apples. Each apple holds a child’s name."

I love that you allowed Sara to be her own person and to grow deep. I laughed at the last part about studying. "I'll remember what's important to me," she says. "If I don't remember it, that's because I didn't care."

You are such a good mom to your girls. They've grown deep and wide. Also you mother so many of us well and help us do the same.

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LL's avatar

Sandra, first, just *thank you.* You are such an encouragement to me :).

It's funny you chose that part about the apples, because of all the parts in this piece which mean a lot to me, it was that part that especially, tenderly stood out to me today. (For I am still, in my way, sustaining and protecting her so she doesn't have to be in the identical apples line. Even though she's now a young adult! :)

I also laughed about the test part (and so did she, because I re-read the piece to her this afternoon). Then she said it was funny, too, that once she went to college, she actually taught herself to study for tests and it was for some reason more important for her to do so. (And, proud mom moment: she *did* end up graduating summa cum laude! :)

I never really considered that I mother others, but I think you are right. And I think that's something I have to work hard to be a good mother in (so, as it turns out, I will never get away from the "how do I be a good mother?" question :)

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Sandra Heska King's avatar

"summa cum laude!"

In her own timing. And because you guided her but let her grow in her own way and not get smushed in a basket of apples.

You *do* mother others, too. And gently. Even though some of us have been a bit wayward, but you never scold, and you never give up. You may never get away from mothering. Happy Mothers Day! With love. <3

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LL's avatar

i might love the wayward ones best ;-)

(happy mother's day to you, too! :) )

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