"Can't you all just get along!", Dad would say. It's not that Dad said it often, but often enough that the phrase still rings in my head. I suppose that my memory is amplified; being that I now have my own children and I catch myself saying the exact same phrases my folks did when we were young.
I don't know how in the world us kids came up with our play characters named Barf, Bartholumule, and Whinalena. I'm pretty certain that my sister didn't have a say in the matter as her name was Whinalena. My brother and I played the part of Barf and Barth respectively. I picture Barf and Barth as overly grotesque, overweight, deep voiced men that strive and live on the torment of other people; for sake of humoring themselves. Whinalena was always poked fun of by Barf and Barth, to the point Whinalena would do nothing but cry.
It was all done in the sake of ignorant play. I can't say that my brother or I ever held a grudge against one another or our sister while growing up. I suppose that this is true of most kids growing up. But when you step back and think about it, it makes you wonder how the butterfly effect took its course. I admit I wasn't on the receiving end of the poke-of-fun and I don't really know how my sister felt. We've talked about it in the past, and I think at the time she was upset and (rightly so) didn't understand why we were being so rude. I've since said my sorry, and I'm pretty sure there isn't a grudge being held. So often I find myself in my Mom and Dad's shoes. I can't be certain of what or how they felt. I'm certain that each of us posed new problems and opportunities of learning the "game-of-life" for our Mom and Dad.
This leads me to today, and the children I'm trying to rear. It happened right before Easter. Dana and I were in Wal-Mart, getting our Easter supplies for the kids, when I had a break-down. I don't know why it hit me all of a sudden, but I just went into a different world. We were walking toward the milk isle, when Dana asked me a question, and I just started to quiver. I was recollecting the recent times I've had with all our kids. We are a mixed family, and for the most part my boys get along well with Dana's two children. At times, I have played off the intermittent fighting and/or arguing as brother and sister rivalry. I try to recall what Mom or Dad would have done in these situations and apply those items; but to my amazement it doesn't seem to be working. HA HA! Didn't Mom and Dad say this day would come? Humor aside, it's a real problem, but a part of life. I concede very little; especially in the midst of my children's test of authority. They are getting older, and they are changing just as I changed and am still changing to this day. Maybe it's just being a parent. You have to concede and say that you have done your best, but I don't know many people that say they know they have always tried their 100% best to resolve each new situation that arises. It's kind like picking your battles, and making the best ones count!So where am I headed with all this rambling and what wisdom is to be had? You will have to wait until Part III of the phoxes mini-series, "No MO Trash". My lunch is about over for the day.
How does this relate to my original post of, "No MO Trash"? It doesn't really. When I was thinking of that topic for my Adopt-a-highway post, the picture of me with my brother and sister in a trash can came to mind!
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