Song Saturday: 30 Seconds to Mars -Closer to the Edge

**No,no,no,no..."

55 Flash Fiction Friday: Shocked

I sat there listening to the person I thought was my friend. He spewed anger at me and I took it all. I deserved everything he said and more. I let him talk until he said the one thing that shocked me. "What do you mean 'you weren't there' and don't know if it happened?!"






Flash Fiction Friday is hosted by g-man.

Song Saturday: ColdPlay - Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall

**I'd rather be a comma than a full stop**

55 Flash Fiction Friday: Blow Me

"I received an email to join Google+!" I said. "Did you join?" "No," I said sadly. "Why not!?" "Because I don't have a *expletive* computer... it's impossible to do stuff on my phone. It's why I'm never here." "Oh..." "I was even invited to join Erica on Na Bah Blow Me!" Both friends started giggling.






Flash Fiction Friday is hosted by g-man.

Song Saturday: Foster The People -Pumped Up Kicks

55 Flash Fiction Friday: You Do Know

She told her friend why she left. She felt comfortable enough after eighteen years to tell him. She said things fast and easily even laughing at one point. "You do know what he did? That's called rape.", he said worried at how easily she said it. "No. It wasn't." she said looking confused. "Was it?"






Flash Fiction Friday is hosted by g-man.

Don't Wish Time Away

All too often we race to get through life. If only this week, this month, this year would end. I'm often guilty of marking time by when I get paid. In the past it was OK to wish time away. Lately, however, I'm reconsidering this. Now I'm not just wishing my time away but I'm speeding up my kids growth. Sometimes there's a lot of crying (No, it's not all me) and a fair amount of whining (Again, not all me but I am good at it :-P ). Some days go great and others don't.

I am starting to think about how my acceleration, my desire to just get to the next easier moment, is causing time to go too fast. My Chloe is incredibly sensitive. My Bella is tough and sure of herself. As tough as my Bella is, she sees me when I pick her up and cries out "Mommy!" Yesterday she turned around and leaned against my legs looking for love and protection. As I dry Chloe off from her bath she asks, "Mommy, are you my best friend?"

A few days ago on Facebook someone I know posted what he thought being a father was. He said that essentially his job was to hunt down his kids like a bloodhound when he thought they needed it, to be tough, bug them, and worry about them. His post bothered me when he said that it wasn't his job to be his kids' friend. As a parent I have to set boundaries, be tough, and not always be the friend. But I am their friend. Not a friend who will burden them with confidences or adult responsibilities, but a friend who will always be there for them no matter what they do. A friend who will listen. It's my job to love them, provide for them, and keep them safe from things that they do not need to know. It's not my job to shatter their world. It's my job to keep them safe.

I'm far from perfect and make plenty of mistakes. I just hope that Chloe always knows I'm her friend and Bella, no matter how tough she is can lean on me for support and know I'm there for her no matter what.




Bella at one.


Bella at two.



Chloe at two and three-quarters



Chloe at three and three-quarters