Ruckus Spoils a Peaceful View

Last Friday when we went to pick up our Indians tickets for the Monday afternoon game, we walked down to the 9th Street pier after eating our lunch from Subway at the Ralph J. Perk Park.  It was very hot but the view was so worth the walk!  Not too many people were around when we went. 

There was a girl reading a book and a black family--two parents with three small children who were sitting nearby watching the boats.  They were enjoying it until all of a sudden, I hear the mother yelling for the kids to get over to her right now!  When I turned around, the kids were climbing up some steps.  When they came over, the mother got up and smacked each one on the side of the head!  She hit the two bigger kids first and they sat down on the wall where they had all been sitting before but the little one was so afraid, she was screaming before she even got hit and was afraid to go any closer.  I didn't blame her.  Then the big father got up and swatted her and she fell down.  It was heart wrenching!  All I could think of was if they treat their children like that in public, what must they do at home?  I didn't know what to do but I felt if I kept watching, the parents may not be as aggressive.  No cops were anywhere in sight.  It was very upsetting to me.

As we left, I prayed for that family, asking God to protect those children and that the parents would wake up and get some help to stop abusing their children.  Do you think I should I have budded in and said something to the parents?  Should I have called 9-1-1 (which I did consider doing, but thought by the time anyone came, they may be gone)?  What do you think we should have done, if anything?



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The Movie "Courageous" Is A Message To Fathers

I went to see this movie over the weekend at our church and think it has a very good message for fathers. It certainly didn't keep me on the edge of my seat like "The Hunger Games" and didn't entertain me like "We Bought A Zoo," but it was more of a family drama. It shows five or six different men interacting with their families, all but one being on the police force.

When Adam's young daughter is killed in a car accident, he has regrets about not spending more time with her and is surprised how much the Bible says about fathers when he takes the time to look search the scripture. He and his co-workers chat about being a good dad and he asks them to hold him accountable to a list of resolutions that he drew up based on the Bible. Parts of the movie did seem corny and unbelievable, like when his group of friends from work all decided to make the same resolutions as well. That would have been corny enough, but then they actually have a ceremony with their families and frame and hang the resolutions in their homes.  (You can actually buy a print of them online at courageousresolutioncertificate.com.)

There were parts of the movie I liked though too. I liked when Adam decides to run with his son in the father-son race.  CAUTION--SPOILERS AHEAD:  Another favorite part was when the construction worker kept his integrity even though it meant putting his much needed job on the line. I think the most touching scene though was when the father of the teenage daughter took her to a fancy restaurant and dressed up to let her know how much she meant to him and that he loved her so much that he wanted the best for her. He asked her to promise him that she would let him approve the guys she wanted to date and until they agreed on the right one, he gave her a ring to wear to memorialize their special dinner and agreement.  I liked that the young guy who was a father out of wedlock and left the girl on her own decided to step up and be a father to his little girl.

I think any father could learn something on how to become a better father by watching this movie.  Please let us know what you thought of it if you've seen it or leave a link in the comments to your review of it.

(50 cents per legitimate comment during April goes to Paralyzed Veterans of America.)

Warning: A Tip For Parents

Kids like toys. In fact, when I was a kid, my grandma gave my mom some money and told her to buy something I'd like from grandma. What did my mom buy? Well, she thought I needed a new dress and although I didn't like dresses which she knew, she thought if it came from grandma, I would like it. WRONG! I was 5 or 6 and when I opened it I said, "Just what I didn't want!" My mom was all embarrassed and my grandma told her, "I said to get her something she would like!"

Remembering Mom

Mother's day is always a bit tough for me because my mom went to be with the Lord. Her name was Lenore. She was a wonderful mother and I loved her so much. Although I wrote "My Funny Dad, Harry" about my dad, I was actually closer to my mom. We always got along well, even through those teenage years. Growing up, I thought my parents were over protective, but looking back, I see they just couldn't help it--they loved me so much.

It was my mom who encouraged me to try new things. She got me a puppy to get me over the fear of dogs, paid for piano lessons because she never was able to have any, taught me how to do puzzles, play games (she especially liked scrabble and Canasta), shared her love for reading and baseball with me, and watched movies and Guiding Light together too. She was my biggest supporter and gave me good advice about what classes to take in school. I took business classes along with the college prep track and after trying teaching for a year as a sub, became a legal secretary which is what mom thought I should do all along.

I remember we'd stay up late and talk and talk about everything (sometimes until 2 or 2:30 a.m.)! She was very easy to talk to and always was a good listener. She let me lean against her like a big pillow. I wish I started reading books sooner because now as I read, I wish I could discuss them with her. She never used a computer, but when I go on pogo or Shelfari, I always think how much she would enjoy those sites as well.

She was always a Sunday School teacher as long as she was physically able and I saw her love for the Lord. We lived in a suburb and moved to the city to be close to the church so us kids could be active in the youth group since she did not drive and my dad worked second shift. I was on the reserved side personality wise but when the youth group started a quiz team on books of the Bible and quizzed against kids from other churches within our denomination, it was my mom who again encouraged me to participate. I loved it and was good at it! Later, when I was a youth group leader, I got quizzing going again and was the "coach."She let me be her helper when she did crafts with kids in our hobby club at church and later when she worked with Jr. Highers, again she let me assist her.

We were different in many ways. She was heavy set, I was always thin. She was very emotional and sensitive, I was more even tempered. She could sing, I couldn't carry a tune. She loved to read, I only read what I had to for school, if that. She sewed and did needlepoint, I wanted nothing to do with it.

On the other hand, we were usually on the same wave length and would laugh at the same things. She would have some fun with her false teeth by pushing them out sometimes, just to make me laugh. She always talked about writing a novel but never did, I am the one who wrote the book. I teach Sunday School now just like she used to.

There's so much more I could write, but I don't want this blog entry to become a book, so I'll just stop here. I still think of her often, especially on Mother's Day, but really just about every day.
Mom died of congestive heart failure Dec. 2, 1999 at age 75 which I include in my book "My Funny Dad, Harry" to show what a wonderful husband he was. I am truly blessed to have had such good parents and I miss them both, love them always.

Be sure to be nice to your mom and cherish the time you have with her.