Wisdom Over Youth

Humorous, inspirational take on growing up and growing older

Teresa Weaver

A Father’s Day Tribute

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          My father is a quiet man. By today’s standards he would be labeled an introvert. His quiet way belied his wisdom, however. If I wanted someone to reflect my passion or validate my actions, I went to Mom. If I wanted thoughtful, measured advice, I went to Dad.

          Women’s liberation started in my childhood. By the time I was a teenager, it was churning full force. I listened, explored ideas with friends and tried to find a balance between my own stay-at-home-mom-traditional-family, and the ideas of breaking out from under the oppression of men and demanding equality that swirled around me in society. As I job hunted after graduation, it felt like an opportunity to join the cause and make my own personal statement. All kinds of fields were opening up. Anything seemed possible, and yet I found the sheer volume of choices more paralyzing than empowering.

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A Mother’s Day Rose

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                I got a rose in church for Mother’s Day.

                I tossed it in the garbage when I got home.

               It isn’t like I haven’t had difficult Mother’s Days before. Thirteen years on the infertility roller coaster equaled 13 years of ingenious excuses to avoid church on Mother’s Day. After adopting, I jumped overnight into Motherhood as I literally held the life of each child in my hands.

                But it has been said that the art of parenting is the art of turning over control of their life — to them.

                It is hardly a straight line. And so I may have been hovering a bit with my baby.

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Holding on to Hope

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New Years Resolutions Concept

The first time I saw The Look, I was standing in my own wedding receiving line. An elderly woman who had watched me grow up spoke kind works and then looked at me as if she had a secret she couldn’t reveal.

I filed it away and didn’t think about it much until I encountered it again years later. I was giving a seminar on home organization and a woman asked me how to get teenagers motivated to clean up after themselves. Not having any teenagers to lend legitimacy to my answer, I rambled off inane advice involving colorful containers. There it was again–The Look.

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10 Things I am Grateful I Don’t Have to be Grateful For

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There are a few words of holy writ I wish had never been written. With slight variations, they all say the same thing: Give thanks unto God for all things.

It’s that qualifier “all” that is troublesome. It is easy to be thankful for all things when fortune is smiling down on you. Not so much when your life has been up-ended.

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Marshmallows and Bootstraps

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“I want some marshmallows,” my three year old daughter announced.

“Get a bowl.”

She tried opening the drawer but the plastic bowls had been jumbled making it impossible to open. I fished my hand through the opening, righted enough bowls that the drawer opened and she chose one.

She searched for the marshmallows.

“They’re in the cupboard.”

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A Father’s Day Tribute — Lunch With Dad

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I walked in the back door of my parents’ home physically spent, teetering on the edge of an emotional abyss. My husband helped me to the spare bedroom where I dropped onto the bed. Satisfied I would be OK, he left for a few hours of errands.

The tears I had held back flowed, fueled by the morning’s pain and a healthy dose of self-pity….

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The REAL Mother’s Day Gift List

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Shortly after my daughter was born, in the fog of sleep deprivation, amidst the 24/7 feeding, changing, rocking and bathing schedule, and when the neglect of not cooking, cleaning or doing laundry began to overwhelm me, I clearly remember the moment I had an epiphany.

“MY MOTHER DID ALL OF THIS FOR ME? ”

“ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!”

The level of sacrifice, work and love required to bring a child into the world and help them grow into an independent, moral, contributing human being…well…. words fail. It almost has to be experienced to be understood.

Thus my dilemma….

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Greener Grass and Other Marriage Myths

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It was hot and muggy. I heaved against the ancient lawn mower’s handle which had already been re-welded once. Heavy and unwieldy, it was truly SELF propelled. My husband had tried to replace it but money was tight and technically it still cut the grass – so it was at the bottom of the wish list.

With blisters forming on my hands, I was regretting my decision of ever wanting to switch roles….

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What Goes Down Unfortunately Comes Up

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Some things you only need to learn once. And a caveat. If even the mention of throwing up makes you head to the toilet –skip reading this.

Any plane that holds less than 130 people is small by my standards. A plane that holds four is one I avoid.

My husband recently fulfilled his life’s dream and purchased just such a plane. He loves it. I do not. But I do love him, and so once in a while he lures me into the plane — especially when commercial flights are overbooked. After all, what could go wrong on a three hour flight across the desert? On a hot August afternoon? With something called thermals  that bounce the plane up/down, forwards/backwards and side/side – at the same time….

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The Road to Jericho

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Today I heard a story of a man from Jericho,
who faced a fearsome band of thieves while traveling down the road.

They beat him and they robbed him. Then leaving him half dead,
they gathered up their shameful spoils and through the desert fled.

So many people passed him by until a kindly man,
bound up his wounds and gave him drink and took him to an inn.

I have not walked from Jericho nor met a man in need.
And so I ask the question – Is this story meant for me?

Then I recall a student from my school who often flees
from others who should be his friends. Instead, they mock and tease.

Perhaps he’s like the traveler left wounded, in despair.
And I’ll be like the kindly man who stops to render care.

A friendly wave or smile will cheer his heart, I’m sure.
And joining us for lunch and play may bring a welcome cure.

Perhaps this story truly has a lot to do with me.
It’s great to find someone to help with simple words and deeds.