The next photo is the PHOTO PROMPT. There’s a lot to see. Does it ignite a story for you. Tell us in a hundred words or less.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Word Count: 100
MOTHER GOOSE
My doctor called it postpartum depression and assured me it was normal, but I knew better. I resented my son Daniel for what he was not. I wanted sugar and spice. Instead I got snips and snails.
One night, after putting the baby to bed, I turned on the television and came across a promotion for flame retardant pajamas. Graphic images of once handsome children, burned and scarred beyond recognition, seared through me.
“What’s wrong with me?” I bolted from the sofa to the nursery, gathered Daniel into my arms, inhaled his sweetness and whispered, “I love puppy dog tails.”
Love the hardcore honesty of this story.
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Dear Loré,
Maternal bonding isn’t always instant.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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True…and I think it is a natural thing, not something to be ashamed of. After all, we are all humans…more or less. 🙂
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Sweet, real, and the reminder that if we are listening, resolutions to our heart’s needs are presented in ways we can comprehend. Great story!
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Sometimes we just need to face the ultimate end of our thoughts to appreciate the little boys…. the snips and snails, a puppy dog tails is part of it… I will ponder a little on this one.
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Dear Björn,
I raised three little boys. They can be a challenge but I think little girls have a few challenges of their own. 😉
Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Ha. you might want to check out the theme we had in dverse yesterday. “Brothers” — touching upon a few of the matters of boys and men.
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Just did. I’m pleased that my boys have grown to be successful men who are good friends with each other. 😀
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Interesting and candid. And beautifully written. My admiration is equally shared between the story and the lovely drawing. Doubly talented Rochelle, you’re very lucky.
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Dear Sandra,
Dare I confess now, so early in the comment section? I did the first draft of this sketch at a ladies meeting. My son fell asleep just like that, bottle in mouth and pinkie in his shoelace. I scowled menacingly at anyone who would dare to disturb him until I was through drawing. We artists are a touchy lot. 😉
I’m pleased you liked both and story and drawing.
Sometimes I feel lucky and other times…
Thank you for a doubly nice comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Your boys are lucky men, for they have had the experience of being raised by a creative, imaginative, artistic and wonderful woman. But what do I know?
Aloha,
Doug
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Dear Doug,
I wonder what my sons would say to your comment. 😉 I’m lucky to have given birth to such a talented trio. They’re pretty amazing individuals. I often say I had once of each.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I loved your story Rochelle. It spoke volumes to me. Wonderful!
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Dear Joy,
I suspect your comment comes from a mother’s point of view. It takes one to know one. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh yes! My firstborn was a boy and I wanted a girl so badly. Of course, I am thankful for him and I love him dearly. He was born before we could find out prior to their birth what their gender is.
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Same here, Joy. There’s a lot of fact in this story. 😉 My son was the 7th grandson on my husband’s side. Everyone wanted a girl, most of all me. For nine months I thought of nothing else but how sweet my little girl would be. Bottle feeding didn’t promote bonding either. Of course, my next two children were boys. In retrospect, I’m glad it turned out that way.
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I completely understand. My son is the only grandson in my family and in his father’s family. I wanted a girl. I have two younger brothers and I wanted a little sister so badly. I guess that carried over to my choice of gender in my child. He, of course, turned out to be a blessing, and my next child was a girl. I do understand how much harder it is to bond with a child when you choose to bottle feed rather than breast feed. My huge mistake with my son is I chose to bottle feed because I knew nothing about breast feeding and didn’t know anyone who could teach me and encourage me regarding it.
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I can relate well to this, too, Joy. Bottle feeding my firstborn is the reason I chose to breastfeed the next two. One of the best decisions I ever made. Bonding was easier…not perfect…but easier.
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That is very true. Thank you Rochelle for answering me. Have a wonderful week. 🙂
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I’m not a parent myself but I can empathise with the mother in your story.
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Dear Rosey,
We think that as women we should be mothers, that we’ll fall in love with our child the minute we meet him or her. Unfortunately, it’s not so for everyone. I’m glad you could empathize.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great story, Rochelle. Both boys and girls have special ways that warm a mother’s heart. My mother (who raised a boy first) used to say she loved little boys because they were so innocent. I also found that they will tell you exactly what they think. No “beating around the bush.” 😀 If you don’t want to know, don’t ask a little boy. Well written as always. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Dear Suzanne,
What I found with my sons is that they were and are individuals. I used to say I had one of each. 😉
Glad you liked my story. It brought back some memories for me.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You did the drawing too!? My goodness you’re talented! This is a beautiful story and brought a tear to my eye. All through my pregnancy I thought I was having a girl (I never found out officially) then the day my son was born I was truly surprised. But boys certainly grow on you and now I wouldn’t have it any other way.
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Dear Jessie,
Yes, the drawing, too. That’s always been a part of me, the writing sort of took me by surprise later in life.
When I had my children there as no such thing as finding out gender ahead of time. Everyone knew at the same time…when he or she made an appearance 😉
Thank you for the lovely compliments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Nothing like graphic images to bring us back to earth! Motherhood is not all smiles and kisses and you’ve shown that beautifully. I, too, had three boys and wouldn’t have it any other way. Was/is quite a different household than the one I was brought up in with just girls!
You are one talented lady! What a beautiful drawing too!
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Dear Dale,
It as an awakening for this mother. ;). It was an emotional evening I’ve never forgotten. Here I was bemoaning my “misfortune” when I’d been given a healthy, beautiful son. He’s a handsome, talented young man now.
I read a book by a mother of sons when mine were children. She said that there as a special place in heaven for mothers of three boys. I’ll be seeing you there.
Thank you for sharing your own experience and the lovely compliments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Shalom,
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Absolutely!
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I gotta say that the ‘sudden realisation of maternal instinct’ was not where I thought you were going with this story… mayhap there’s been too many stories of postpartum depression recently, but I was sure you were going to a dark place here.
I’m really glad you didn’t – I like the pleasant surprise and I think this works well.
Having one of each, the amount of sugar in little girls is severely overstated… 🙂
Cheers
KT
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Dear KT,
I just didn’t have the heart to kill anyone off this week. I did enough of that in my novel 😉
In looking back, I’m glad I had boys. Mine are all emotional, sensitive artistic types. I’d hate to have had estrogen added to the mix.
Thank you for your comments and best wishes with your sugar and spice.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hormones! What you gonna do?
Good piece Rochelle
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Dear Mick,
Hormones in spades after giving birth. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I love this. There are so many mothers who don’t instantly bond with their babies after birth and yet are too scared to say for fear of being judged.
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Dear Louise,
I know what you mean. I expected to just fall in love with my daughter. So much for instant bonding or daughter. 😉 Fortunately, bonding did happen.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle.
I was a little nervous with the burning building as to what might happen, but instead got a wonderful loving mother. I glad love triumphed.
Nice drawing. I don’t blame you for not wanting him disturbed.
Blessings,
Phyllis
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Dear Phyllis,
No burning buildings here…just some maternal love ignited. 😉
Thank you for your lovely comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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;0)
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A friend had two boys. With the first one, she was unable to breast feed directly. So the father had the chance to do a lot of the bottle feeding. My friend was able to breast feed her second son.
The way they saw it: first son = dad; second son = mom. Both got a chance to bond with each child. A special relationship that created 2 exceptional boys.
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Dear Phylor,
I love the way my little flash is bringing out the mommy stories. 😀
The mother in my story, ie me, never got her sugar and spice but she learned to have a special appreciation for puppy dog tails…three times.
Thank you for your comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
I have little to add to the comments save a reiteration of Lore’s “hardcore honesty.” That honesty makes your story sing.
So glad you included the sketch. I remember seeing this one years ago, and I’m glad you chose to share it. It fits the story well and tells much of yours beyond the truth in this week’s flash.
Peace,
Marie Gail
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Dear Marie Gail,
They say confession is good for the soul, right?
I really had a wrestling match with this story. I knew what I wanted to say but had trouble gathering thoughts and articulating them.
Thanks for your comments…they made me sing. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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As a mother of two boys – who was praying for ‘Sugar and Spice’ the second time – I can relate to this story. The disappointment evaporated in a minute when the puppy dog tail wagged 🙂 Sweet story!
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Dear Ansumani,
Well said. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Love it. True maternal love at last. Highly readable and gentle story.
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Dear Patrick,
For me it was that moment of truth. I’m glad it spoke to you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you for not putting a baby in that burning house. I’m a little afraid to read this week.
I do understand that feeling.
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Dear Tracey,
You’re welcome. Putting the baby in a burning house never crossed my mind.
I think every mother, whether she admits it or not, understands the feelings. 😉 I remember them well. I tend to be moody and PPD nearly ate me alive.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That was sweet and touching. I, too, appreciate the honesty.
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Dear GAH,
Thank you for such a sweet comment. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle
I remember all too well in my psychiatric nursing days, spending hours working one-to-one with mothers suffering from post-partum depression. Of course this is at the extreme end of the scale, as many mothers have difficulty bonding with their newborns — especially following a prolonged delivery or because the baby is a difficult feeder. The trouble is, there’s this expectation of how you should feel — a perfect mother -v- perfect baby ideal — and if you don’t fit that image, this added sense of failure and resentment creeps in.
Your very honest story says it all, but I am so glad the bonding happened in the end.
Have you ever read “The Fifth Child” by Doris Lessing? It’s a brilliant novel about a mother who has 4 perfect children but her 5th one, a boy, is an absolute nightmare even in the womb!
All best wishes
Sarah
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Dear Sarah,
This story is as honest as it can be, because the only thing that’s fiction is the baby’s name. 😉 In those days…some forty years ago, if you weren’t breast feeding the hospital didn’t let you even hold your baby for twenty-four hours. (One of the reasons I breastfed the next two boys). He had colic besides and always smelled of regurgitated formula. I truly resented him. That night when I saw that TV special I fell apart. The sight of my beautiful sleeping baby jolted me back to reality. Boy or girl no longer mattered.
Thank you for sharing your own experience. I love it when my story inspires others to share their own.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A sweet story that rang two bells in my memory – being disappointed that my second baby was also a girl, and suffering from postnatal depression after my son was born. Fortunately I fell in love quickly with my second daughter, and recovered with help from the depression. Both memories help me to understand others.
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Dear Liz,
As you can gather from my story, it took me slightly longer to fall in love with my first son. It seems that all the mothers in this group can relate. I’m happy to say that I did fall head over heels in love with my boy. He was and still is one of the lights of my life.
Thank you for commenting and sharing your own experience.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great story, Rochelle! After two boys, I was convinced we didn’t make girls. Imagine my surprise when we learned #3 would be a girl! I wasn’t sure what kind of “girl mom” I would be. The girl and I bonded over whooping cough and broken ribs while I was pregnant, though. I made a mental pact with her – I’d get healthy, and she’d stay healthy! Thankfully, we each kept our part of the bargain!
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Dear Lisa,
I’m glad you were able to get healthy. 😉
I’m still convinced that we don’t make girls, although one of my sons did.
Thank you for commenting on my story and sharing your experience. I’m loving the other mommy stories.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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This is a very taboo subject, for women are supposed to have an instant connection with their child, but sometimes, that is not always the case.
A well written story and the drawing is lovely too!
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Dear Francesca,
This story was actually a bit of a surprise to my husband. After forty-two years, he had no idea how I felt. At the time there was a lot of pressure from both sides of the family to produce a granddaughter. As if we had control over that?
Thank you for your compliments on both counts.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Looks like the shock of those images cured her depression. Maybe she wanted a girl, but he’s still her child. Glad she shook off her woes in the end. A fine story, Rochelle! 🙂
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Dear Eric,
I can’t say the images cured her of her depression but they certainly gave her an appreciation for the little person she’d been given. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Aww.
Whatever turns the trick.
Randy
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Dear Randy,
Sometimes we don’t realize what we have until something noodges us to wake up.
Thanks for the ‘aww.’
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Sometimes even the most obvious of tasks and feelings need a wake up call. I could feel the mother’s regret within your words. Great story.
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Dear Jen,
This mother needed a wake up call for sure.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I never had such aspirations for my son, but even without a gender disappointment, I’m not sure there are many mothers who can’t relate to the extreme emotions – ready to drown them one minute mother bear protective the next. Bonding takes time; there’s only so much falling in love you can do with the weird internal wrigglings of a baby before he arrives!
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Dear Jenn,
No doubt your comment comes from firsthand experience as does my story. 😉
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I have three girls, although number three was supposed to be a boy lol Life has a magical way of making you appreciate what you have in life. All three of my beautiful girls were born with a genetic condition, with it came a lot of soul searching and acceptance. A fantastic piece of writing Rochelle that highlights most new mums plight. 🙂
Hugs
Heidi
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Dear Heidi,
I love hearing other mommy stories this eek. I’d say that heaven has a special place for you.
Thank you for reading and leaving such lovely comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A very interesting story from a mother’s point of view. I really liked the sketch as well.
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Thank you on both counts, Norma.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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you had me on the last sentence. it was very sweet.
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Dear Plaridel,
Happy to have gotten to you in the end. 😀
Thank you,
Shalom,
Rochelle
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After the picture, I was quite anxious at the beginning of this story and very relieved by the end of it.
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Dear Hilary,
I’m happy to have eased your anxiety. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle,
I’m glad it worked out okay. I was getting nervous after that first paragraph. Perfect title too, since she realized at the end she was being a goose. Wonderful, as always.
-David
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Dear David,
Things like this have a way of working out, don’t they? On the other hand, as I’ve seen in the news it’s not always the case.
I’m so pleased that you picked up on my title. That’s exactly what I meant. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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How very scary.
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Come again? Scary?
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The mind..the possibilities.
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Ah Bach. Fortunately this one had a happy ending.
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A moment of scary revelation for the mother, but at least now they’re bonding. Lovely story!
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Dear Ali,
Some of us need a a good jolt to bring us back to reality. This mother certainly did. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Oh you had me worried for a moment, I though she was going to burn them both to hell – but they get a happy ending :-).
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Dear Sarah,
I think there’s been enough burning this week without my fanning more flames. 😉 Happy ending indeed. The baby in question grew into a fine young man.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hi Rochelle! Your drawing attracted me first. Its superb. You depicted innocence of a child beautifully. Story, as usual beautiful , honest confession from a mother, it happens sometimes . I think bonding is instant if you are wishing for a healthy child, boy or girl.
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Dear Indira,
Your words, as always, are sweet and complimentary. Alas, bonding instantly, isn’t always the case. The story I wrote this week is true. I didn’t bond instantly with my first son. Bonding did come eventually. That night, though, was certainly a wake up call. My son was beautiful and healthy, what more could I ask for?
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Mother baby bonding is difficult especially when a baby has colic for nine months – still we got there in the end. I always said I loved my baby but didn’t like her very much – 30 years later we are deeply bonded, best friends.
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Dear Sally,
My son and I are also good friends and bonding did come eventually. He was a colicky, needy baby which didn’t help matters any.
Thank you for sharing your experience.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank heaven for the snips and snails, the rough and tumble boys who grow to be strong, beautiful men!
A lovely story, with such lovely illustration too.
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Dear Jan,
My rough and tumble boys certainly grew up to be beautiful men. Of course I could be a bit biased. Nah. 😉
Thank you for your lovely words. I’m smiling.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Nicely done Rochelle! In that moment she had an epiphany!
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Dear Barb,
She did indeed have an epiphany and has never forgotten it. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Be well Rochelle!
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She’s lucky to have arrived at that conclusion before any real damage was done to her son.
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Dear Alice,
Fortunately she did bond with her son. He was a precocious child who grew into a fascinating man.
Thank you for coming by.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A beautiful story … and glad for once TV knocked some sense into someone for a change .. bravo!
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Dear Georgia,
I think that program was on the air for such a time as that. 😉
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Probably … probably!
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Love the character progression in your story. Brilliant how you used the rhyme, as well. Fab writing!
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Dear Sonya,
Thank you for such a wonderful comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Dr. Mike,
It sounds like that TV ad was the right prescription to cure the ills. Your boys are very blessed. There’s no app that can replace a mother’s love.
– Evan
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Dear Evan,
I wonder what my boys would say to your comment. There were some challenging times in their formative years.
Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Dr. Mike
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Oh dear, I was so scared the ‘snips & tails’ was going to be burned…thank goodness you rescued him 🙂
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Lovely story, Rochelle. I know it does take some new mothers a while to love their offspring. Lack of sleep and and multiple unaccustomed pressures don’t help. Those awful images certainly made this mother realise just what she’d got.
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Dear Millie,
New motherhood is that time where fantasy fades after the first sleepless night with a colicky baby. At least that was my experience.
Thank you for your such nice comments.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The pain of disappointment seems too much sometimes. When my daughter was teaching in Thailand she had a student who was a “ladyboy”. His mother had not had any girls and so mom and dad decided to raise their youngest son as a girl. Theirs seemed the height of denial too me but I cannot imagine that woman’s heartache.
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Dear Joseph,
I remember seeing a movie once where a mother dressed her son as a girl. As much as I wanted a girl, the thought never occurred to me.
Thanks for coming by.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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To me that is a good thing Rochelle.
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Out with my baby son and young daughter, my husband and I met a couple who came over with their two little daughters to admire my son and told us they’d wanted a boy as their second child. I both felt for them and felt a bit astonished that they came right out with that to two total strangers – perhaps it was because we were strangers.
It haunts me a little still – and I feel for that second baby girl who will now be a young woman. Hope they found a way to turn those feelings around, as the mother does in you story – love the way you did that.
Life is so like that – we do count our blessings in time sometimes.
Lovely story.
(PS And finding the shout for breast feeding wonderful – a had a difficult time with my first baby (hated hospital and stayed at home second time around) and feeding her was a great healer.)
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Dear MJ,
I always regretted not breastfeeding my first son. I will always remember my second son’s first smile. It was while he was nursing.
Thank you for sharing your stories and kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, that would be an awful commercial to watch. I love your art work and your tie in to the nursery rhyme. It works wonders here. Beautiful job!
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Dear Amy,
Thank you on all counts.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochellle,
A story that must ring true for many parents who want a particular sex. Glad you enjoyed your boys. I enjoyed your flash.
Cheers irene
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Dear Irene,
I’m glad you enjoyed my story and took the time to say so.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a great little story! It’s so good to see post partum depression portrayed so honestly. Adorable little drawing, too.
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Dear Emilie,
We write what we know, don’t we? 😉 Thank you on both counts.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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She may not have gotten exactly what she wanted, but boy did she come to her senses. 🙂
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Dear Adam,
She certainly did. 😉
Thanks for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Nice story and so true. Mothers are people too and are not always perfect. Your first reaction is not always your best. There are many cases when you think the love is not there, but deep down it is and it comes to surface.
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Dear Jessie,
It’s hard to deal with disappointment when your hormones are raging and your bum hurts. It was a tough time but it’s far in the past.
I see you’re also an artist.
Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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None of us is perfect, in midst of all that love are moments of extreme parental frustration. Wonderfully written and makes one think about the nature of the bond between a mother and a child.
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Dear Subroto,
Sometimes it’s hard to be loving during sleepless nights with a colicky baby. Ah well, those days are now far in the past. 😉
Thank you for reading and commenting.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Sweet and imminently relatable, for most mothers, Rochelle. Anyone who’s sat up for days with a colicky baby, has had those momentary dark thoughts. Love the way you’ve played it out here. Well done!
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Dear Dawn,
It seems this story brought out the mommy stories and I’m loving it. It’s a high compliment when readers see the story rather than the writing (unless the writing’s incredibly bad). It’s hard to believe those days of colic and spit up are so far in the past.
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I liked your story. It was very thought-provoking. 🙂
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Thank you, Susan. 😀
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A lot of emotion in your short story–it touches a lot of different possibilities and feelings.
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Dear Emily,
Thank you for reading and leaving such a nice comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle, Awesome story and very visual to me – great! Nan
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Dear Nan,
I seem to have hit the mommy vein this week. Many could relate. Glad you liked my story.
Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I love this mother. She has to deal with feelings she probably doesn’t want to feel, and yet she comes through at the end. Great story.
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Dear Margaret,
It’s hard to admit that you didn’t fall in love with your own child. While everyone seems to expect it, it doesn’t happen immediately, does it?
Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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AnElephant is once again in awe of your writing.
Powerful, poignant and thought-provoking.
Bravo.
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Dear Elephant,
Thank you for your words of high praise. I am humbled.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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