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Grasping the Elusive Dream

Viewing comments for Chapter 13 "The Child Most Like Her Father"
The Followup to Chasing the Elusive Dream

20 total reviews 
Comment from Tom Horonzy
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That's a lot of details. All from memory or did you keep a journal. I think it would be hard to encapsulate what history came with my two daughters. I hope Mom kept a diary.

 Comment Written 15-Jul-2023


reply by the author on 16-Jul-2023
    Thank you Tom. I had a journal at one time but I'm writing from memory now. Things my kids did are etched in my memory.
    Beth
Comment from Loretta Bigg
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I enjoyed this description of your daughter a great deal and I saw a lot of you in the piece as well. I especially liked the stories you wrote within the stories as I could see your daughter very well that way. Good job!

 Comment Written 15-Jul-2023


reply by the author on 16-Jul-2023
    Thank you Loretta, I so glad you enjoyed my story. Kids are interesting and they keep you on your toes.
    Beth
Comment from royowen
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Oh yes, I don't I've really been reproduced I'm my children or grands. My eldest is her mother in nature, her eldest and youngest sons are their mother's sons, the. Middle son, Nick's son, my younger my mother's granddaughter. But nobody's like me, thank God. I loved this Beth, blessings Roy

 Comment Written 15-Jul-2023


reply by the author on 16-Jul-2023
    Oh I'll bet all the kids and grandkids have a bit of you in them even if they mini-mes. Non of my are exactly like me but they do have certain simular traits.
    Beth
reply by royowen on 16-Jul-2023
    Yep, your right Beth
Comment from Ben Colder
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In raising children, it is the most challenging time of our lives. Especially when we are trying to raise our kids in the ways of the Lord. It seems as Saten turns everything lose our kids, causing stress as some you mentioned. I bet Carol; is now a fine young Woman who cherishes her life and memories. In one way or another, I think we all have had our Carols.
SENDING blessing to all.

 Comment Written 15-Jul-2023


reply by the author on 15-Jul-2023
    You are so right. Raising children is very challenging and there times when we feel like a failure. Carol is a fine young woman that I enjoy being with but she let go of some of her early faith and embrased some new age idea that aren't good. She needs prayer.
Comment from barbara.wilkey
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My boys have their father's stubborn streak. All of them. I never knew how lucky I could be...cough, cough. But they inherited my love of animals and young children. Those I think are good qualities. Thank you for sharing. I enjoyed reading.

 Comment Written 15-Jul-2023


reply by the author on 16-Jul-2023
    Yes, the stubborn streak are something that isn't easy to deal with. If all the men in your life are stubborn I sympathise.
    Beth
reply by barbara.wilkey on 16-Jul-2023
    They are. Sometimes I just give up and leave the room quietly. LOL
Comment from Dolly'sPoems
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You know the personalities in your household really well Beth and youngsters are impressionable and it is a pity your daughter destroyed the albums you loved so much, I would have gone ballistic too. Religion can plant seeds into people's mind to do crazy things. I enjoyed learning about your family here Beth.

Just a couple of small edits:

She (willingly) obeyed almost

didn't make (sense) to me.

Love Dolly x

 Comment Written 15-Jul-2023


reply by the author on 18-Jul-2023
    Thank you Dolly for a great review. Someone reminded me that we don't have worry about records and more now that we can hear any music we like on the computer. It reminde mt to ask Alexa to play some of the song I lost and I got to hear them again. I think by writing about what my children were like, I've gotten to know them better and I know they know me better by reading what I've written.
    Beth
Comment from davisr (Rhonda)
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I like your Carol story. You paint her as an independent and self-reliant young lady. She reminds me a bit of my oldest child, also a girl.

You shared some funny stories and a tense one. You are so blessed to have all three.

Also in this chapter, you give us a glimpse of what your husband was like. It sounds like you were great parents.

Take care,
Rhonda

 Comment Written 15-Jul-2023


reply by the author on 18-Jul-2023
    Thank you, Rhonda. Like all parents we just tried to learn as we went along. We did a lot wrong and hopefully some things right.
    Beth
reply by davisr (Rhonda) on 18-Jul-2023
    So true!
Comment from Faith Williams
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That opening paragraph is profound and thought-provoking. You kind of got that whole 'nature versus nurture' thing here. We each have our own unique personalities which includes tendencies towards faults. Can nurture overcome some of those things found within our nature? Yes. Can lack of a nurturing environment enhance those faults. Yes. Sometimes, though, no amount of nurture can overcome it. I think of people who are sociopaths or narcissists. Were they born that way or were they a creation of their environment. I went off on a tangent.

Ha, ha, I love the comparison of her stubbornness to a redbud sprout. Never heard of it before, but you give us a clear picture of it.

Suggestions to consider:
'She willing obeyed... ' I believe you mean 'willingly'.

'... and yet she is the one I've always felt was the most (at) dependable.' I think you should delete 'at'.

'Carol did something that didn't make (senst) to me.' Sense

Oh my, that ending made me laugh. Did she like that nickname more than the other one? Thanks for sharing, Beth.

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 Comment Written 15-Jul-2023


reply by the author on 15-Jul-2023
    Thank you Faith, You brought up some interesting thoughts about nature and nurture. They both matter but nature sometimes seems to dominate. Thaks for help with the corrections. As to the nickname, she was fine with it but the swelling went down so it didn't stick.
Comment from Debbie D'Arcy
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This has a completely different tone to the other chapters I've read. There's a real poignancy in there and I had a dread that something very serious was going to happen to Carol. Thankfully she recovered well from the appendicitis. But I see you here very much more reflective, Beth. Maybe it's to do with you being reminded of Evan which makes you sad. Seeing your children grow up can give you more opportunity to see and to think about the similarities that exist. Your text is now vastly improved and looks great. Your story as ever smoothly flowing and very readable. Two small edits perhaps: para starting Carol....was the most dependable (no 'at') and 'sense' in the next para. Excellent! Debbie x

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 Comment Written 15-Jul-2023


reply by the author on 18-Jul-2023
    Thank you Debbie. I think I might seem more reflective here because of the personality of Carol. She was a more serious personality type then. I like to find something amusing to put in these stories but with her, it was hard to find anything. She has changed a bit as she's matured.
Comment from patcelaw
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

I was very pleased to listen to your story about your daughter, and her being like her father. I think it all families, one or more of our children will take after one or the other of the parents. I loved your story the little story about the rhinoplasty for the nose, kind of brought a little humor to my face. I loved your story, and I wish you the very best with all of your writing. I am getting to where I'm able to speak my reviews into my iPad and it is recording my words very faithfully. Patricia

 Comment Written 15-Jul-2023


reply by the author on 17-Jul-2023
    Thank you, Patricia. I'm thrilled that you gave this one six stars. I hope you getting better after your fall. Are you still in rehab.
    Beth