Family Poems and Stories 2010-2017
Viewing comments for Chapter 26 "Thoughts of Gregory"...musings on us
33 total reviews
Comment from RoDanni
You really hit the nail on the head. Tough love parenting SUCKS. You have to acknowledge that they are a decision-making (even if they are terrible decisions) adult and just be hands off. You've captured the fear and the pain and the worst--the unknown--in this poem very well. Good poem.
reply by the author on 02-Oct-2017
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You really hit the nail on the head. Tough love parenting SUCKS. You have to acknowledge that they are a decision-making (even if they are terrible decisions) adult and just be hands off. You've captured the fear and the pain and the worst--the unknown--in this poem very well. Good poem.
Comment Written 24-Sep-2017
reply by the author on 02-Oct-2017
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Hi there;
thank you so much for reading and your kind comments. sorry its taken so long to reply to your review; been working on my other writing.
~patty~
Comment from Brett Matthew West
Sounds like tough love may not be enough, or the answer.
An addict is going to do what they want to do until their habit either completely destroys them, or they hit bottom so hard they have no other choice but to get the help they need and get cleaned up.
Caring about an addict is never an easy chore.
Well written poem displays the range of emotions you are feeling. The very last thing he needs though is to be completely shut out of your life.
reply by the author on 02-Oct-2017
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Sounds like tough love may not be enough, or the answer.
An addict is going to do what they want to do until their habit either completely destroys them, or they hit bottom so hard they have no other choice but to get the help they need and get cleaned up.
Caring about an addict is never an easy chore.
Well written poem displays the range of emotions you are feeling. The very last thing he needs though is to be completely shut out of your life.
Comment Written 24-Sep-2017
reply by the author on 02-Oct-2017
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Hi Brett;
thank you for reading this piece and giving me some comfort. sorry it took so long to reply, but I've been working on my other writing.
I'm dealing with all of this for now.
Comment from mbroyles2
I admire your courage.
I'm so thankful that my children have avoided this trap.
I'm not sure how I would react.
I'd probably be torn and tortured as you must be.
I offer my sincere hope that one day your son will seek the help that he so desperately needs.
Michael
reply by the author on 02-Oct-2017
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I admire your courage.
I'm so thankful that my children have avoided this trap.
I'm not sure how I would react.
I'd probably be torn and tortured as you must be.
I offer my sincere hope that one day your son will seek the help that he so desperately needs.
Michael
Comment Written 24-Sep-2017
reply by the author on 02-Oct-2017
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Hi Michael;
thank you so much for this kind review and comments. sorry it took so long to reply, but I've been working on my other writing. I appreciate your time to read and review,
~patty~
Comment from apky
Yes, I remember your visiting Gregor sometime earlier this year and staying with him for some days. You had sounded quite confident that he was on the right path, and above all that things were becoming great between the two of you.
Alas, it seems it didn't last forever.
But a mother's love is as near immortal as we humans can get. Hard, yes. But no way to kill it, whatever the situation, whatever it takes.
I'll keep you and Gregory in my prayers, Patty.
reply by the author on 02-Oct-2017
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Yes, I remember your visiting Gregor sometime earlier this year and staying with him for some days. You had sounded quite confident that he was on the right path, and above all that things were becoming great between the two of you.
Alas, it seems it didn't last forever.
But a mother's love is as near immortal as we humans can get. Hard, yes. But no way to kill it, whatever the situation, whatever it takes.
I'll keep you and Gregory in my prayers, Patty.
Comment Written 24-Sep-2017
reply by the author on 02-Oct-2017
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Hi Aki;
sorry its been so long to reply to this one. I've been working on my other writing -- so much fun, but time consuming!
Thank you for your kind words,
~patty~
Comment from Phyllis Stewart
I can only imagine what you must be going through. At least he will still speak to you, so it's not as bad as it could be. Maybe he'll grow out of it... sometimes that's all it takes.
reply by the author on 02-Oct-2017
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I can only imagine what you must be going through. At least he will still speak to you, so it's not as bad as it could be. Maybe he'll grow out of it... sometimes that's all it takes.
Comment Written 24-Sep-2017
reply by the author on 02-Oct-2017
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Hi Phyllis;
sorry its been so long to reply to this one. I've been working on my other writing -- so much fun, but time consuming!
Thank you for your kind words. I don't know about growing out of it - he just turned 31!
~patty~
Comment from Mitchell Brontė
I can feel your pain here Patty, and my thoughts go out to you, stay strong my friend.
Beautifully written with heartfelt feelings, a tough read, left me numb but appreciate your bravery in writing this.
Mitchell
reply by the author on 02-Oct-2017
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I can feel your pain here Patty, and my thoughts go out to you, stay strong my friend.
Beautifully written with heartfelt feelings, a tough read, left me numb but appreciate your bravery in writing this.
Mitchell
Comment Written 24-Sep-2017
reply by the author on 02-Oct-2017
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Hi Mitchell;
sorry its been so long to reply to this one. I've been working on my other writing -- so much fun, but time consuming!
I do appreciate your comments on this piece. I'm staying as strong as I can - he doesn't get any money or perks from me. I haven't called him in a long time; I've let him know the ball is in his court.
~patty~
Comment from Dolly'sPoems
My heart goes out to you Patty, the curse of drugs and what it has done to our innocent young sons, your poem is hard hitting and full of feeling, I feel your anger, helplessness and anguish, I wish you well Patty, love Dolly x
reply by the author on 02-Oct-2017
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My heart goes out to you Patty, the curse of drugs and what it has done to our innocent young sons, your poem is hard hitting and full of feeling, I feel your anger, helplessness and anguish, I wish you well Patty, love Dolly x
Comment Written 24-Sep-2017
reply by the author on 02-Oct-2017
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Hi Dolly;
sorry its been so long to reply to this one. I've been working on my other writing -- so much fun, but time consuming!
I do appreciate your comments on this piece. I'm staying as strong as I can - he doesn't get any money or perks from me. I haven't called him in a long time; I've let him know the ball is in his court.
~patty~
Comment from Possummagic
I've given this a six star rating for a number of reasons. I really appreciated ( a better word than "enjoyed" for this Subject) your work and your pain. I've been there and a year down the track my son is still doing well. Crystal meth is a destructive, all consuming drug and you have portrayed perfectly the effect it's use has on the individual and their family and friends.... what friends? They drop off years before it gets to this stage. Yes, tough love is really hard but it's the only way. I have my son back and I'm catching up on all of his adolescent years that I missed out on. Good luck, hang in there. PM
reply by the author on 02-Oct-2017
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I've given this a six star rating for a number of reasons. I really appreciated ( a better word than "enjoyed" for this Subject) your work and your pain. I've been there and a year down the track my son is still doing well. Crystal meth is a destructive, all consuming drug and you have portrayed perfectly the effect it's use has on the individual and their family and friends.... what friends? They drop off years before it gets to this stage. Yes, tough love is really hard but it's the only way. I have my son back and I'm catching up on all of his adolescent years that I missed out on. Good luck, hang in there. PM
Comment Written 24-Sep-2017
reply by the author on 02-Oct-2017
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Hi PM;
sorry its been so long to reply to this one. I've been working on my other writing -- so much fun, but time consuming!
I do appreciate your comments on this piece. I'm staying as strong as I can - he doesn't get any money or perks from me. I haven't called him in a long time; I've let him know the ball is in his court.
~patty~
the six stars really made my day!
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I hope things get better for you. To let you in on a secret, my poem the " Tooth thief" was based on a quack dentist who pulled two of my sons teeth out rather than fill them, when he was taking drugs. With "ice" the gums are puffy and the blood supply lost and the teeth with fall out or get ripped out by quacks. We've halted the process by paying to have his teeth filled. A small price to pay for this incredible young man who is almost 8 months drug and alcohol free. Good luck. Marie PM x
Comment from mermaids
I applaud your courage and perseverance. Addiction is such a difficult disease. Your words remind the reader of the challenges faced by the families of those struggling with this disease. Excellent use of words.
reply by the author on 23-Sep-2017
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I applaud your courage and perseverance. Addiction is such a difficult disease. Your words remind the reader of the challenges faced by the families of those struggling with this disease. Excellent use of words.
Comment Written 23-Sep-2017
reply by the author on 23-Sep-2017
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thank you so much for your kind review. I'm dealing with this pain as best I can,
~patty~
Comment from pipersfancy
Oh goodness, Patty! You've laid your heart bare in this brave write - yet done it so skillfully that I never felt overplayed as a reader.
First stanza - brilliant repeated use of the opener, "I can't" which is, of course, the place you must begin to relate your tale, focusing the reader on YOUR pain, turmoil, and upheaval... And, when we are torn asunder with worry for our kids... well, a little bit of crazy-making happens, doesn't it?
Second stanza - you shift seamlessly to "He", sharing with us the most resonant aspects of your son, both *then* and *now* so that we feel the changes in his personalty, feeling the strain in the relationship as it must be now.
Third stanza - there is no room for make-believe, or excuses here... this is the harsh reality of a painful situation. Yes, "tough love" is hard. You're a good mom, Patty.
And the final line - even as one faces the daily grind of reality in the here and now, one cannot help but be torn up by speculation. Why, indeed, do things unfold in life the way they do?
Although the situation with my kids has been different, I certainly feel your pain. My two children were abducted by their father after a lengthy court battle that awarded me sole custody ("awarded"... as if children were nothing more than trophies to be displayed on a mantel... sigh). After seven years of searching and going crazy, the next chapter began. I'd hoped for some peaceful tranquility in my life, but instead have had to shift into the reality of living with two traumatized youth: one who became so desperately ill physically that I nearly lost him, and the other who turned inward and made multiple suicide attempts until... until... what? I don't know what turned things around - I can give credit to God I suppose.
But, things change. They always do because life is not static. And, still - we go on because we must.
Prayers and hugs to you,
Christina
reply by the author on 23-Sep-2017
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Oh goodness, Patty! You've laid your heart bare in this brave write - yet done it so skillfully that I never felt overplayed as a reader.
First stanza - brilliant repeated use of the opener, "I can't" which is, of course, the place you must begin to relate your tale, focusing the reader on YOUR pain, turmoil, and upheaval... And, when we are torn asunder with worry for our kids... well, a little bit of crazy-making happens, doesn't it?
Second stanza - you shift seamlessly to "He", sharing with us the most resonant aspects of your son, both *then* and *now* so that we feel the changes in his personalty, feeling the strain in the relationship as it must be now.
Third stanza - there is no room for make-believe, or excuses here... this is the harsh reality of a painful situation. Yes, "tough love" is hard. You're a good mom, Patty.
And the final line - even as one faces the daily grind of reality in the here and now, one cannot help but be torn up by speculation. Why, indeed, do things unfold in life the way they do?
Although the situation with my kids has been different, I certainly feel your pain. My two children were abducted by their father after a lengthy court battle that awarded me sole custody ("awarded"... as if children were nothing more than trophies to be displayed on a mantel... sigh). After seven years of searching and going crazy, the next chapter began. I'd hoped for some peaceful tranquility in my life, but instead have had to shift into the reality of living with two traumatized youth: one who became so desperately ill physically that I nearly lost him, and the other who turned inward and made multiple suicide attempts until... until... what? I don't know what turned things around - I can give credit to God I suppose.
But, things change. They always do because life is not static. And, still - we go on because we must.
Prayers and hugs to you,
Christina
Comment Written 23-Sep-2017
reply by the author on 23-Sep-2017
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Hi Christina;
Your words and kind and I appreciate you sharing about your children. Does not sound like life was too kind, huh? As Moms, we all face many challenges of all kinds, thank you so much for your kind review. I'm dealing with this pain as best I can,
~patty~
