My eyes were parched, yet I kept them open, watching you as I did when you walked to the school bus. It seemed like such a long way for you to walk with your little legs. I told you not to look back, that looking back would make it harder, and I wanted us to have a “peaceful goodbye”. Peace was the September “virtue of the month” and it helped those first days when being apart wasn’t normal.
My throat closed up, as if I could cry, choking the words I wanted to call out – I love you! I’m proud of you! But you didn’t need to hear that – your humility and compassion allowed you to understand more than your 4 year old self should.
My heart slowed, a molasses drip, wondering what you were thinking as your tiny feet plodded on. Perseverance and courage might as well be etched on your retreating back. But the little wrinkles on your forehead would spell curiosity – we had that common. I wanted to help you, but you respectfully said you would go alone and that I should stay. I would have held you back, you honestly said. You knew I wouldn’t want that. Oh, how wise you had become!
My breath hitched and I was afraid – afraid you wouldn’t find the joy that I knew you deserved. But you didn’t look back and when you started to run – that’s when I knew:
You were going to where you truly belonged.
This short story is in response to Hélène Viallant’s “What do you see?” Picture prompt. There were so many ways to respond to this picture that Hélène posted – it could be scary or exciting or sad. It could have elements of science fiction or fantasy. Or a metaphor. My story is a little bit of all that. The back story could be that the world is coming to an end, the mother left behind to perish watching the sole survivor, her child, walking towards the unknown. Is it hopeful? Or ominous?
I also incorporated several virtues (or values) from Montessori education to fulfill Jamie Dedes’ Wednesday Writing Prompt request to “tell us about values gone awry”. My children attend a Montessori school and these virtues are lessons that are incorporated in the classroom and that I also try to utilize and exemplify at home. This whole child viewpoint of teaching is one of the reasons I love Montessori education.
While I’m not sure my story is one of values gone wrong, it does remind me of the saying “good guys finish last”. But do they really? If they believe their behavior, their sacrifice is for a noble cause, are they finishing last or being the first hero?
You had me in tears reading your story. Your words feel so real that I was sure it was a true experience you had, Beautifully written piece. Thank you 🙏. A sage little boy, and a wise mama.
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Thank you so much Hélène! The picture did remind me of my son’s first day of school but then the planets added a whole other element. Your prompts are beautifully challenging!
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Glad you like the prompts, you sure do share awesome poetry and stories. thank you for joining the challenges
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My words are only as good as the prompts that inspire them! 😁
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Have a good week, be well.😊
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Beautiful 🙂
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Thank you so much!
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Very well written. I could feel a Mother’s love. Especially, the precious way you described the tiny steps. Beautiful!
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Thank you so much! I’m glad it resonated with you!
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yes I thought you might be writing about first days at school and both feeling the wrench … well written!
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Thank you dear friend! Those first goodbyes are the hardest!
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tough … and then the joy of freedom takes over 😉
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Lol! Truth! 🤣
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A thoughtfully composed piece, and most of the time I like to take the obvious/simple view and trusting my first impressions, and I saw a child embarking on his life’s journey with innocent confidence, and a mother who has already experienced too much of life’s arduous trials and tribulations, and fearing for the child’s future and not wanting to let go.xx
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Yes, that was my first impression as well. I try to live by the K.I.S.S. philosophy when I can – you can’t go wrong with it!
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A good philosophy to live by 🤔☺️
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I remember when my younger son was in pre-school – I belonged to a carpool – I did the pick-ups. The drop offs, were hard. I also remember working in a pre-school class room. And some of the children had a type of radar. They would cry only when their parents could see. The children would fuss when dropped off and just minutes before the parent arrived fuss and bother again so the parents thought the whole day was in ruin. It was not.
Children are smarter than most adults give them credit for. 🙂
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Lol! I know! My kids’ preschool used to have a camera so I would watch them during the day and they were happy as clams! Of course you wouldn’t know it by the tears at drop off. Transitions are hard for kids but sometimes harder for their adult!
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I taught long before the onset of camera’s in the class room. One little girl was a biter. And her father refused to believe the teachers! Guess that little girl really did have her Daddy wrapped around her little finger!
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I want to say hopeful, rather than ominous! 🙂 Your story is eloquent, sad, hopeful, and wholeheartedly touching! ❤ 🙂
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Thank you, dear friend! I wrote it with an ominous cloud but reading it again, I guess my optimistic nature shone through.
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Well done and touching, heart-rending, and hopefilled all at once. Bravo!
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Thank you, Jamie! ❤️
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Beautifully observed and written, I really like this.
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Thank you so much for your kind words. I’m glad it touched you!
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This is gorgeous ❤ What loving eyes you have to see with – thank you for sharing your sight with us!
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Thank you again! So glad my work resonates with you!
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