The View from a Drawbridge

Tag: Child

  • Children as Commodities

    It’s horrifying how often people are willing to rob children of their childhood.

  • Inherited Wealth

    Recently, on my online newsfeed, I saw an article that asked the readers if it is ethical to pass your wealth on to your children. I confess, I didn’t read it. Why would I? It’s not a problem that I’ll ever have. My parents didn’t have much money to pass on to me, and I…

  • The First Word

    While relaxing on my back porch the other day, with my dog in my lap and the sun in my eyes, I allowed my mind to drift in lazy spirals. Talk about the epitome of privilege. Doing nothing. If this were the 1800’s, I’d be out there chopping wood for the winter. Anyway. I have…

  • Child Witch Hysteria

    Every day in Africa, hundreds of children are declared to be witches. Once this happens, their lives are effectively over. They are tortured for confessions, abandoned by their families or murdered by villagers. Schools will no longer teach them. Hospitals will no longer treat them. These children are blamed for any family misfortune. Disease, miscarriage,…

  • Pick on Someone Your Own Size

    Of all the collateral damage caused by our Grand Poobah, I have to say I feel the most sorry for Barron Trump. If he’s not being criticized about being sleepy at 3 in the morning, he’s being called “Poor Little Rich Boy” or being accused of mental health issues. Childhood is hard enough without being…

  • Chocolate Isn’t So Sweet

    I am allergic to chocolate. It gives me migraines. But that doesn’t stop me from eating it. Over the years I’ve just learned how much I can get away with by trial and error. I love chocolate. So if the prospect of excruciating pain would not deter me from eating this delectable treat, and my…

  • Child-Free and No Regrets

    I was talking to a 30 year old woman who does not want to have kids, and she was venting about the societal pressures that are placed upon her. Boy, could I relate. She said she got very sick of hearing… and we said it simultaneously… “You’ll change your mind.” Now that I’m 50, people…

  • Wounding your Children with Words

    Let me get this out of the way right up front: Yes, I’m one of those obnoxious people who have no children of my own and yet still form opinions on how to parent. I cannot imagine what it must feel like, the sheer exhaustion, the raw nerves, the utter frustration that children can foster…

  • Just Another Day in My Life

    So I went over to my friend’s condo to check his mail while he’s out of town. It was early in the morning, and I pulled up at the bank of mailboxes and stepped out of the car. Then I heard this scream. Not an excited scream like two teenage girls who are playing around.…

  • Why I am Child Free

    At the moment I’m taking care of a child. I love him to pieces, but I swear there are moments when I’d like to dump him on his parent’s front porch like a flaming bag of dog poo, ring the doorbell and drive away quickly. He whines. He complains. He doesn’t listen. He gets cranky.…