Jill Terry

I feel him pulling
Moving away
Gently he slips
In directions
Opposite me
Testing his wings
Determined and courageous
The look in his eyes
Reveals fear of
Full flight
No longer
My little boy
Always my baby
No matter how
Far from me
The universe
Takes him
Of typical concern
My own human flaws
Hoping my guidance
Has properly prepared him

Tags: bonds, changes, children, connections, courage, family, growth, Life, mother and child, parenting, personal journey, puberty, strength, teens

Fold the paper in half. Pinch the tip. Open it back up. Write your name next to the pinch mark. Write the date underneath your name. Write your class period under the date. Student number in top right corner. Index cards folded on the left corner by height; exactly half an inch wide. Run your [...]

Tags: character, communication, kids, Life, middle school, parenting, teaching, trials and tribulations

I was that girl of the water, of which you spoke; though it wasn’t until later in life that I learned how to actually flow. Much of my youth was spent swimming and fighting against the raging tide. I still bear scars from being thrashed to the bottom by the undercurrent; battle scars of lessons [...]

Tags: boundaries, childhood, children, control, family, hope, individuality, learning, life lessons, memories, mistakes, old soul, parenting, personal journey, reflections, responsibility, thoughts, truth

I see the way they look at him – admiring his natural ability and genuine love – wishing they could take time and coach him, teach him a little of what they know. And I know that if he ever comes up in a draft again that someone will snag him away from his team. [...]

Tags: Author Musings, kids, Kids & Family, Life, parenting, personal, thoughts

It’s not that he wasn’t having fun this season; his heart just didn’t seem to be in it. Could be because we got booted off our regular fields, due to the growth in the area; that’s not saying the new fields aren’t great, they’re top-notch and we’re lucky to live in a community that doesn’t [...]

Tags: Author Musings, baseball, kids & baseball, Kids & Family, miscellany, parenting, personal, priceless moments, Stories, This Writer's Life, thoughts, Writing Prompts

Sunday Scribblings – #100 Time Machine
I can’t help but wonder if one day they’ll look back and regret all the things they didn’t do, not because they couldn’t, but because they didn’t want to, didn’t think it was that important, or couldn’t spare the time; wishing they could go back in time and do it [...]

Tags: being a parent, family, kids, Kids & Family, Life, parenting, personal, raising kids, Sunday Scribblings, This Writer's Life, thoughts

She got the call just minutes after she arrived late to work; the school guidance counselor, informing her that her daughter had just been rushed to Memorial Hospital, due to what they believed to be a suicide attempt, which occurred in the girl’s bathroom, right before first period.
She slammed the phone down, “Mother Fuck…why does [...]

Tags: bad parenting, Flash Fiction, Kids & Family, Life, parenting, short stories, Stories, Unconscionable, Writing, Writing Prompts