Choose Life
Words lash. They find their mark. Sting. Volley returned. Another wound. So why do we fuss and fight? Children learn early how to argue, fume, defend, and retaliate. I listened quietly in the kitchen as I swept the floor. They fought over bathroom cleaners, each wanting to begin Saturday morning chores, each one wanting to clean their assigned bathroom (all on different floors) first. Tears and scrambling. Still I waited...as a mother waits. I hoped they would come to resolution, peacefully before the need arose for me to intervene. They didn't. Voices raised until there was a physical tussle. My husband got there first. Perhaps he had been listening too or maybe he heard only the final crisis. He didn't gather stories this time. Each was sent to their bathroom, one with broom and dust pan, one with toilet bowl brush and cleaner and, one with mirror spray and a rag. I could still hear whimpering from the main floor bathroom, but all else was quiet. I went about my tasks, fin...