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She watched them go. Self-sufficient, self-absorbed, leaving the ravaged breakfast table resplendent in cereal boxes and dirty bowls.
She couldn’t remember the last time they’d waved goodbye, let alone kissed her.
She didn’t expect miracles from teenagers, but acknowledging her existence wouldn’t hurt. She was ignored unless they had a complaint. Each day they grew more like their father.
She sat amid the breakfast chaos carefully counting her secret savings. It was enough. She could take that cruise and never return.
She wouldn’t do it of course, but the dream of a different life made her smile.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThere are times in our lives that I think we all long to escape. I really empathised with your protagonist Mary, we all need to feel wanted and appreciated. At least her secret stash keeps her dream alive even though she may never act on it. Great story!
I must say this story was close to home on a few occasions. Thanks for reading Linda.
I can relate to your story, Mary. I dream of that too, to travel and escape from a stressful life even for a while. But I cannot do it, I cannot leave my children even when they make me cry and my nerves are exploding.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleI think most mothers can relate at some stage.
? Yes. I think so. But not all.
Another sad and thoughtful story Mary, and yet, if we can not be ourself, then it has been a waste of a life – don’t you think?
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GooglePerhaps you are right Eric, but most mothers would choose to stay with their children rather than live for ourselves.
Oh, what a sad and lonely lady. The self-sufficiency must be a comfort to your protagonist, but life would be painful whichever choice she made.
Ah the teenage years. A dream of escape can sustain you through a lot.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleMary, I think many parents sometimes feel like getting on the first ship and make a run for it. You very accurately described how unappreciated parents can feel, by the way their spouses and kids treat (or ignore) them. Great story.
Thank you, I think we all dream of a different life, but most of us acknowledge that it is just a dream.?
Family life so easily turns into a situation where we take a lot of things for granted and don’t show appreciation for what we receive. I understand the protagonist’s longing to get away and also why she won’t leave. I think that the sentence “they grew more like their father” is very important to the story. Teenagers need to see appreciation, love and gratitude expressed between their parents in order to understand… Read more »
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThanks for a great comment. I wondered how many people would pick up on the line about the father.
This is such a sad and thoughtful story. Many can relate to this story, which is what I love about it. I especially like how you finished it. Great job!
Yes many of us mothers dream of escape at one time or another. Thank you for reading Daisy.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleIt was my pleasure Mary.