Saturday, April 6, 2013

F is for Fair



     “It’s not fair,” my daughter said with her hands on her hips.

     That’s right, dear. Life isn’t all sunshine and roses. Do you think it’s fair that I have to go to work every day and pretend I don’t see Mr. Jenkins looking down my shirt? Or that even though we’ve lived here for five years the neighbor’s dogs still bark incessantly every time I go out the front door? Or better yet- is it fair that I eat grape nuts and tofu and can’t lose a pound and your father cuts out his nightly Ben and Jerry’s and drops five in a week? Life isn’t fair, honey. Get used to it.

     I look down at her and hold back my smile. “What happened?” I ask.

      

44 comments:

  1. Brilliant idea. So much creativity going on with this a-z challenge. And no, life isn't always fair, I agree.

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    1. I agree, this has been the best a to z yet

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  2. haha...I remember when I first found out that life 'wasn't fair'...it's a harsh lesson, indeed!

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  3. LOL!! Who ever said it was supposed to be? :)

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  4. They're better finding out sooner and save the disillusionment as an adult!

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    1. sometimes it's easier to be blissfully unaware.

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  5. The Grape Nuts/Tofu/Ben & Jerry's is the epitome of 'not fair'! Funny, well-written short! 'Hi' from the A to Z!

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    1. Thank you. I have to admit, most of my stories are very far from who I am as a person, but not that line. That was 100% me.

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  6. This was great. To me it really epitomizes love and sacrifice, plus you manage to characterize the speaker in 150 words. Well done!

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    1. Thank you. I've really enjoyed writing these.

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  7. I can relate to this!
    And spot on about the weight thing too!
    That is so NOT fair. (:

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  8. Ain't that the truth!? Especially the thing about the B&J's, LOL. My husband says, "Huh, I think I should get in better shape." Then he snaps his fingers and skips a soda one day. And he loses five pounds. Sigh.

    Shannon at The Warrior Muse

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  9. No, life isn't fair, but if we had the maturity to take a larger view, we'd see so many instances where life was better to us than it was to others. Nice post!!

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    1. You're right, being content is the cure to this

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  10. LOL, this is great. This could have been pulled straight out of my head.

    I wrote about Fear--http://charitywrites.blogspot.com

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  11. Too funny :D

    I've got one of those barking dogs next door too! Drives me crazy.

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  12. Somebody needs to slap Mr. Jenkins!

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  13. Cute story -- maybe she should tell you daughter..., except maybe for Mr. Jenkins. MM

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    1. That would certainly be keeping it real, wouldn't it?

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  14. Hugs! Melanie - that made me laugh....thinking of my what I think and what I actually say theory! :-) Thank you for connecting!

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    1. Wouldn't it be scary to know what people were actually thinking? I think I'd rather remain blissfully unaware.

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  15. I hate the jobs where people just stare down your shirt. It's disgusting. I had to read this piece through a few times (thought the mom had said this to the daughter until I saw the difference in italics. It's late and I'm slow). Clever. And thank you for the kind worlds on my blog!

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    1. You're welcome, and thank you for coming to visit mine.

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  16. Thanks for sharing this authentic parenting moment.

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  17. I'm sure there's many a mother out there who's had similar silent conversations!

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  18. I love it, parenting is such an experience..I have 4 and it's a challenge for sure...they are all teens and keep me busy! So nice to meet you, thanks for coming by my blog sweetie!

    Shannon at I Survived and Now I Run

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  19. Amen on that...so what happened?

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  20. This is great! So glad you stopped by and introduced yourself. Don't you just love A to Z.
    until next time...nel

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  21. Visiting from the A to Z Blog Challenge. Enjoy the 2nd week.

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  22. I like this story. And not just because I can totally relate to the the weight loss issue ;)

    ~ Rhonda Parrish

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  23. That's what I used to tell one of our foster daughters all the time!

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  24. I talk like that to my daughter all the time, and forget to first find out what's going on! lol

    Chontali Kirk
    chontalikirk.blogspot.com

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  25. Wonderful how you hit exactly what can happen in the mind in like one second! Yes, nothing is fair, but how much of that do you want to reveal to your child? Step by step only, but you have very little time to decide! Great text, it's really challenging to capture so much in so few words!

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  26. I think EVERY mom wants to give that reply at least once in her life--but we don't want to disillusion our little girls. :-)

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