Lynn's Comments: Some problems might have been seeping into my own marriage at the time, but we managed to keep things going because the kids were young, we both had a lot to do, and we both had a great sense of humour.
Lynn's Comments: This is the way I talked to my kids; trying to let them know that they hadn't fooled me. I knew exactly what they were up to and it wasn't working. From their point of view, of course, everything worked perfectly.
Lynn's Comments: A kid in my neighbourhood taunted us all with a bowl of ice cream--just the way Richard is doing here. I went home and asked for ice cream and my mother told me I should have something healthy instead. She gave me a big carrot. I went outside, chewing the carrot. When the kid came up to me to taunt me again, I spat my mouthful of pulverized carrot into his ice cream. I still feel good about that today.
Lynn's Comments: Another true story. The fact that this happened to me more than once suggests a rather startling lack of intuition. A night-light was installed around the same time as the offending male trained himself to kindly put down the seat.
Lynn's Comments: I had fun with this story. It occurred to me that in her later years after being alone for so long, Mrs. Baird should find a loving and considerate partner. Why not!
Lynn's Comments: When my marriage dissolved, I was on my own wondering if I would ever find someone to share my life with again. When I did go out with a gentleman, I always wanted to know if they met with my children's approval!
Lynn's Comments: Last year, I met someone with whom I have a lot in common. We have been seeing each other for almost a year, now. My children approve.
Lynn's Comments: I have friends who live in seniors' homes, and the number of connections made between the residents is heartwarming. What I never knew when I was young is that relationships can be exciting and fulfilling and romantic at any age. Thank goodness for that!
Lynn's Comments: I have a friend who was forced to break away from a man she dearly loved because his children were afraid she would get some of their inheritance. It was the saddest thing.
Lynn's Comments: The thing that attracted me to my husband, Rod, was his wonderful sense of humour. Once again, a true to life incident became a Sunday page. I can still hear the clerk in the hardware store laughing!
Lynn's Comments: My job sometimes required me to work all hours; weekends, evenings, and sometimes, holidays. Even though Kate and Aaron understood what it meant to be working on a deadline, they often wished I'd break away from my drafting table and be mom for a while.
Lynn's Comments: As a kid, I was on my own a lot. My folks had a gift and jewellery store, which meant that they worked all day, every day, weekends and evenings, too. It was my job to get the dinners ready. My mom would put all the ingredients together and leave a detailed description of what to do. After awhile, I considered myself the chief cook! By the age of 13, I was proud of myself for being able to make meals for everyone, and I still use the recipes my mother wrote for me then!
Lynn's Comments: I wanted to be a teenager so badly. Ten wasn't good enough, and twelve was agonizingly close. When I finally added the "teen" to my age, I felt I had achieved something wonderful. I know I had an attitude. Like all my friends, I suffered the ups and downs of fitting into a new body with all the hormones raging. But it was a time of great positivity as well. I guess it was confidence that made being thirteen so wonderful. I had a supportive and loving family, I was doing well in school, I had confidence, education and security. I never knew how lucky I was.