Lucky Kids

August 3, 2013August 10, 2017 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / Leave a comment

It isn’t often I stop another man in public and offer him a compliment, especially when my husband is with me. But a few days ago, I witnessed something that impressed me and I couldn’t let the moment pass.

While shopping for a housewarming gift, I heard the unmistakable sound of merchandise tumbling from the shelf on the aisle next to me. Grateful it wasn’t me knocking things over, I ignored the commotion until a blur rushed by. The next words and the tone of concern piqued my interest.

“Honey, are you all right?”

I peeked over the shelves in time to see a rather large man rush to the side of a young preteen girl. Her reply was too low for me to hear, but she looked relieved.

He patted her back. “It’s okay, nothing broke.” His voice was gentle. “Let me help you.” He knelt beside her and together they returned each item to its rightful place. He stood, smiled, gave her a reassuring pat on the back, and moved away, leaving her to shop on her own, once again. He left her with no words of reproach or caution to watch what she was doing. He headed in my direction to resume his own shopping as if nothing had happened.

I thought of the many times I’d witnessed other children in similar situations and the reaction of other parents. The small child smacked on their tiny hand, bottom, or jerked away from the store shelves for simply mimicking mommy. The angry and frustrated mother,”I told you not touch!”

The language changes as children grow but the reaction is often the same.”Get away from there. If you break that it’s coming out of your allowance. Do you think I’m made of money?”

Much like the economy, patience is running thin in families across our nation. Our society is in turmoil to the point we are now debating the meaning of family, but as I observed this stranger with his daughter it was clear to me this man was an active, involved father and he understood completely the meaning of family. He gave me hope.

“Excuse me, Sir,” I said. Replacing an item on the shelf, he turned to me.
“Yes?” His smile was warm and welcoming. Faint crows feet crinkled in curiosity, as he looked right at me. I could see why his daughter felt safe.

“I wanted to tell you how impressed I was with how you handled your daughter’s mishap a few minutes ago. So often, I see parents get angry with their children when something like that happens, but your first concern was for your daughter, not the merchandise. It was wonderful to witness such parental love and patience. He seemed surprised.

“Why thank you, but we have five children, we’re used to seeing lots of things get broken.” He chuckled.

“Well, I just thought you should know, you’re a great example for fathers.”

“Thank you. I do my best.”

“Lucky kids,” I said, walking away.

To Daughter’s Everywhere: Mother’s Words of Wisdom

May 12, 2013August 10, 2017 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 1 Comment

To every daughter who ever uttered the words, “I’m never going to be like my mother,” I hate to break the news to you. It will happen, sneaking up on you when you least expect it. Those famous last words will come rushing back and kick you in the rear.You know what I’m talking about. Memories of having to cut your own switch, you swore NEVER to use corporal punishment.

So, you bought a cute little time-out chair. You gloated over your parenting skills until the little angel reached her third birthday and decided she could out last you. Exhausted and patience long gone, the first nugget rolled off your tongue. “Do you want a spanking?” After that, the challenge was on. The little darling tested every resolve you ever made and your mother’s words tumbled out faster than water over a damn.

“Because I said so, that’s why.”
“Wait till your father gets home.”
“If you fall and break a leg, don’t come running to me.”
“Don’t you use that tone with me.”
“Don’t get smart with me.”
“If all your friends jumped off of a bridge, would you?”
“You better stop that crying or I’ll give you something to cry about.”
“I don’t care what the other kids parents told them, I said no.”
“I’m not asking you, I’m telling you.”
“Don’t put that in your mouth, you don’t know where it’s been.”
“Don’t make me come in there.”
“Go to your room and don’t come out.”
“I pray to God, you grow up and have a houseful just like you.”

But, the clincher happened when your teenager rolled her eyes at you for the first time and the world spun on its axis.“You roll your eyes again at me, and I will smack them into tomorrow.”

With her words reverberating in your ears, you run to the mirror horrified at the “mommy jeans “ and worn tee shirt you’re wearing and notice for the first time, the crow’s feet, and the hint of gray hairs. “Oh My God!” The reflection of your mother stares back.

Relax, acting like your mother happens to all of us. Blame genetics, after all, you’re fifty percent her or imagine she passed on to you her secret words of wisdom. Children didn’t come with a parent’s manual and although helpful, Dr. Spock and the other how-to- books are nothing more than quick start guides. After those beginning years, you’re pretty much spitting in the wind and flying by the seat of your pants. You can’t prepare for this wild ride of love between a mother and her child, but words of wisdom tucked away for just the right time are priceless.

So, on Mother’s Day salute your mother, give her a call and thank her for all the words of wisdom she has imparted to you. If you haven’t used them you will, and while you’re at it, you might want to find out a little bit more about her favorite bush. Do you have any favorite words from mom? I’d love to hear them. Leave me a comment.

Momisms; Saying What I Never Thought I’d Say (swimintheadultpool.com)
Mom, Blue Collar Comedy star bring humor to Wagner Noël (mywesttexas.com)

Happy New Year!

January 1, 2013October 21, 2016 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 4 Comments

It’s here, 2013, time to put away the old and begin anew. I want to thank each and every one of you who has taken a moment to stop by the Cow Pasture Chronicles, in 2012. May you and your family have a prosperous, healthy and Happy New Year, and I hope you will make Cow Pasture Chronicles and Sheila’s Morning Pages a part of your 2013.

Cursive Anyone?

November 25, 2012October 21, 2016 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 2 Comments

I read an article in the paper today by the Associated Press, stating 45 states are planning to adopt national curriculum guidelines in English and math that don’t include cursive handwriting. These 2014 guidelines, will however, require students to be proficient in computer keyboarding by the time they exit elementary school. Thank God, not all states agree. California, Georgia, and Massachusetts, have added cursive to their requirements, some states have left it as an option, while other states are still riding the fence.

I can hear the outcry already from some of you reading this post. “It’s outdated, antiquated, everyone prints, we’re a digitalized society, every thing is done on computers,” and, the list goes on. In fact, those are some of the arguments used by the states eliminating cursive from the curriculum, but I want to present my view.

Let me first disclose I love my tech gadgets. I have an iPhone, two Mac’s, and a Kindle. I am somewhat addicted, I admit, but I also appreciate and love things from the past. Although, I love the convenience of downloading a book instantly or being able to carry thousands of books in my purse, there is nothing that can replace the feel of turning a page or the smell of a hardback book as I sit entranced, cuddled up reading by the fire.

And while my iPhone maybe attached to my hip, and I love being able to access my emails, documents, calendar or make a call whenever I want to, I hate texting with a passion. I believe it is the number one thing that has changed the way we as human beings interact and communicate with one another, especially forming intimate bonds. People have stopped talking to each other and we’ve lost the art of communication.

Every week I receive in my email a letter, usually old and written in cursive. Letters of Note, are letters, cards and postcards from all over the world, each one with a story to tell. The eloquence of their words make me wish we still wrote letters to one another. The cursive handwriting, itself tells a story. I look at the pictures of the letters and it’s as if I am seeing the person who wrote the letter. I feel their spirit. The letters are touching; they move me. They, make me laugh, cry, cheer me on, and sometimes make me wish I had lived in a different time.

Don’t misunderstand me. I’m all for progress, but we shouldn’t lose who we are in the process. We shouldn’t forget where we came from or who are. We shouldn’t throw away something that reveals so much of who we are. How many times have you watched someone run their hands over the handwritten page of a letter to feel the words written from the soul of their loved one? It’s as if they could feel them. It may sound like a simple thing, but a signature is more than our name. It represents us, our honor, our integrity, our word. Somehow taking that away from our children in the name of progress, just doesn’t feel right.

Cursive anyone?

Sheila