it was not
the dingo that ate yo baby
but you
tearing small chunks
with gnashing teeth
to feed your
self indulgent pride
now he's gone
still it's all about you
What can you say in 160 characters? (spaces included) Go see Monkey Man on Sundays, for 160.
One of the boys I worked with...seemed every time we started making progress his mom would nip his heals and chew him up...he moved out when he turned 18, received his GED and is holding down a full time job...so there is a somewhat happy ending...
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82 comments:
It's heart rending to see a parent belittle a child's potential with long term effects.
A mother has to be very confused and seriously ill to ever hurt her child.....many do I know but I believe it to be a very sick cycle.
......:-)Hugs
my father was like that,,always knocking us down just when we would start to grow. It took me yrs to realize that was his weekness not mine.
hugs
I like it when you write about your work with at risk youth. It's a good reminder that we need to keep them in our prayers. You should be proud of what you need. The system needs more people with a heart like yourself, people who care about these kids!
I meant you should be proud of what you do!
I know a few kids that deal with this sort of thing. It's positively heartbreaking that a mother could EVER sabatoge her child's life like that...but, sadly, it happens.
Thanks for sharing this story of a boy who pushed past it. Glad he's got people in his corner.
Some parents don't know what it takes to be loving and nuturing. The cycle Bernie refers to can be broken but many just can't put in the effort. So sad. Great 160, Brian. Thanks for playing as always.
So sad that in the world today things as this exist.I might add I think its even more rampant, for lack of a better word, than many many years ago.Our society is really down as far as it can go I think.Thanks for sharing Brian!
I'm glad I had supportive parents, and I bet this kid is glad he had you.
It's so sad to hear about a mom who doesn't nurture and support her child. I saw it plenty in my work and it always broke my heart.
Wow! True words. Been there on the receiving end. Ouch.
wow great piece. And so true...
I feel sorry for people that have parents like that. I am glad he is doing well in life though.
Coming from a place where to speak of ones accomplishments meant you were a bragger, I felt that gnashing.
Those accomplishments are his. He owns them. He should be proud. I hope he is Brian, of it all.
"dingo ate yo baby". Too good.
Given the choice between dingoes and my mother, I'll take my chances with the dingoes.
I'm glad he could get through the poor parenting and still make something of himself...some are just too selfish to be parents. Nice 160 :)
anyone know the reference on "dingo ate yo baby"?
it is a beast to have parents that suck the life out of their kids and set them up to fail...aggrevates me every time...nag, nag, nag....pick, pick, pick...steal, steal, steal...like hungry wolves...ack...
sorry had to get this one off my chest...
Seems strange to me that a mother could soothe her "pride" by harming her child. But peoples is nutz - and that's my story and I'm stickin' to it. :)
I put my comment on the wrong post. THIS is the one...but he's really not worth my time...
It's heartening when a child is able to overcome roadblocks thrown in their path and have a successful future. I suspect that you can take some of the credit for this boy's ability to do so.
It riles me when I see parents belittling their offspring. They're actually belittling their only significant creation. Weird.
Have a nice day, Boonsong
Glad the ending is happier than one would expect.
Happy weekend,
jj
Very sad, but kudos to this boy for forging his own path anyway.
Bringing up a child in a way she/he should be brought up is no easy task. Not many are good at the steps after giving birth. The archetype of a mother figure being this and that is not always true!
Joy always,
Susan
Sadly we live in a broken world with broken people. Thanks for sharing Brian.
anyone know the reference on "dingo ate yo baby"?
I didn't know this ref. Thanks for clarifying it. I find it hard to understand parents who wouldn't want the absolute very best for thir children.
A parents' words can make or break a child. If we all were more attentive to our words! The world might then be a place of peace??!!
Hugs
SueAnn
Uuuff - this one hits hard - have to do some research in my soul and hope I won't find a trace of such an attitude - though one can never be sure.
Fantastic 160 Brian and we definitely need more men like you!
So sad ... a situation that's not yet cured. My Mom was an expect in verbal cruelty and smashing my confidence.
sorry to hear that val...our words have such power to give or take life from those around us....esp from our parents...
Oh my, vicious, but eloquent (and sadly, so true). I do love your writing.
Sadly there are lots of parents like that out there-- nip, nip, nip.
Good for him to get out of there. Now he has a chance to make a life and to learn he is worthy.
Hello Brian:)
There is a lot of truth in what you have written in the first paragraph. Sometimes parents come down so heavily on their children thata they lose all initiatives. One parent scolded a child so badly because he did badly in his exams that the child committed suicide.
Normally, it is the father who is responsible for this sort of harsh behavior. Mothers allways support their children and molly coddle them. In the process, sometimes children succeed and sometimes they fail When children are pampered some use it as source of motivation to succeed where as some children fail take initiative and stand on their own legs and become useless.
In the case you have cited, the young man is extraordinary and he became a success on his own.These are special people and perhaps you can count them on your fingers like Abraham Lincoln who was a wood cutter and became the President of the United States or we had a President Abdul Kalam who sold news papers in Rameshwaram who went on to become one of our great nuclear scientists and then the President of India.
I enjoyed your post very much.
Best wishes:)
Joseph
Clearly that mom was miserable and hated herself and took it out on her child. What a shame!
WOW! So wonderful that there is a positive direction in there.
It is the parent that has the easiest route to sabotage.
He is a fighter and a true champion! People's words can break you or make you. I understand how you must have felt! Some of my kids parents are like that too. They tell their kids they are no good and will never be good and I have to fight against that and make the kids believe in themselves.
why am I sitting here grinning?
why why couldn't God made it to be such a way that pain, and learning and horror would only start at adulthood...a child may have all the memories, but he's brand new...
Yikes!!! What a powerful 160.
I wish it weren't so, but sometimes (maybe too often) it is true what you write.
PG
That he prevailed even without the support of his mother speaks volumes! What a graphic image, nice.
Very thought provoking. Hard to watch something that is so obvious. That young man will no doubt be a stronger person and let's hope that he doesn't pick up that learned behaviour pattern when he becomes a parent........
The title made me laugh before reading the piece, which then evokes sympathy. great write, Brian
I absolutely know the dingo reference! Not just from Seinfeld, but from the movie, too, though I can't remember the name of the movie. You captured very nicely how some parents torture their children. It's unbelievably sad. Glad it turned out ok for this kid.
pat on the back to you for seeing it and helping where you could Brian. Happy Sunday. Great 160, as usual.
:)
xo
sad 160. a commentary of life nowadays.some so wrapped up in themselves you have to wonder why they ever had kids to begin with.Glad this one had a good new beginning for the kid.
Too few Happy Endings these days..
it reminded me of a case in Australia where a child went missing and they blamed it on a dingo....well done...watch out for those Dingos and Kangaroos..bkm
it is most known from seinfeld...it was also in 'a cry in the dark' with meryl streep...which ironically has the them of 'justice'...
Very good 160. When I was 18 I saw a man doing this in the store where I worked. I often wonder what happened to that little boy and I wish now I would have said something.
Here's mine...not nearly as thought provoking as yours!
http://harrischanningauthor.blogspot.com/
OH MY THAT WAS SAD....
wow, you just made one heck of a statement in those few characters!
Just saw a special on dingos...
Wow! Powerful stuff, Brian.
Excellent, sometimes it can be just that...and somehow made stronger. Well done!
Good for him...good for you...great 55. Heartspell
HI Brian. Great short writing. I can personally say that I have been in that child's shoes far more often than not. I too, have overcome and have a good life! :)
Full of emotion! Makes one realize the value of encouragement...
A good story for a 160!!! Pheewww...
I remember that news story; you make excellent use of it here. Powerful stuff.
Good 160... and terrible story within.
D.
yes, that is a happy ending!
excellent theory friend, loved it :)
eww, that is pretty bizarre!! Weird Mom!
It amazes me how some parents can suck the confidence and love from their own children.
Well done, once again Brian.
Damn. I don't know how you do this ~ both the writing and the work.
You are so succinct with these 160's, but say so much. Glad this story had a positive ending.
She sounds a lot like my mom. I'm glad that he was able to survive her, like I am still surviving my mom.
As per your comment, I've never been so scared. My little drama queen was returned safe and sound but it was probably the worst 45 minutes of my life.
Hope you and yours are happy and well, as always
T
I will never hear those words again without thinking of them in this reference. Very clever. I'm glad this story had a happy ending.
Powerful writing, Brian!
That's a lot to say in one txt message...but there are so many parents out there with a phone in the hand that should be holding the hand of their child...they need to read it. Well said, my friend.
Tracy H
Glad that this boy had a better ending. Parents should be sensitive to their children's need rather than see them as an end to fulfilling their own wishes and needs.
As an Aussie, I had a good chuckle at the way you presented such a serious topic. Very creatively done, Brian. :)
This really made me think. I hope I never eat my babies and please, Lord, forgive me for the times I have tried to.
this is something I will never ever understand, how someone can hurt his/her child in any way ... I just cannot get that and I also have hard hard time to find compassion for those parents ... I cannot ...
This is brilliant!
Being selfish and self centered sure doesn't help much and especially in relationships. A cute 160 Brian :)
Dang, this one got to me. Hopefully he can find his way to a healthy freedom.
I hope I don't do this to my Son. Its a shame to injure a child like that.
Well I'm glad he's getting his life on track. How sad. Parents are supposed to be your biggest supporters.
Great poem. Powerfully direct.
It's sad but true that's the way things go sometimes. I also see a commonality that's almost the reverse of this...where the "baby" is too dependent on the parent and either forces the parent to "eat" them or otherwise hampers his/her own future.
Very nice.
A tough thing to see happen but am glad that he is making his own way now.
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