The Word Worker

Tag: Family

  • Book Review: The Carp in the Bathtub

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    wordworkerrussell
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    Harry and Leah have a problem. There’s a fish in their bathtub, but that isn’t the problem. The problem is that the fish is dinner. Mama’s special Passover dish is gefilte fish, special fish balls made from a carp. The best fish always sell out early, and dead fish spoil quickly, so the carp has…

  • Balanced, or Teetering?

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    wordworkerrussell
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    Parenting often feels like walking a tightrope. Without a balance pole. Meeting physical needs of growing bodies can alone feel like an insurmountable challenge. That pair of shoes you just bought last month that already don’t fit. The three hundred dollars worth of food that didn’t last a week. Then there are the emotional needs,…

  • Black and White Summer

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    wordworkerrussell
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    This flash fiction was inspired by a photo prompt that I unfortunately don’t have the right to share. You the reader get to imagine the scene for yourself this week! Enjoy! ********************************************* Gramps kept the old black and white postcard in his wallet, folded up neatly to fit in a card slot. Sometimes he would…

  • The Family That Works Together

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    wordworkerrussell
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    It’s a lost art, families working together. Here and there you will find a small family owned business that includes the kids, but thanks to child labor laws that is rare. Our family doesn’t work together because of business. It’s our life. Our lifestyle is somewhat non-traditional. My husband doesn’t work a traditional job; he…

  • The Christmas Gnome

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    Ellen switched on the light in the cluttered garage and sighed. She had put this off as long as possible but with the house being listed in a week there was no more time. Maybe she could just load all the boxes and junk without opening them, haul them to the dump, be done. She…

  • A Beautiful Mess

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    Last night I made pumpkin sweet rolls to surprise my kids for Thanksgiving breakfast. I only do things like this for one reason – the reaction. The truth is that I hate cooking, especially baking. It’s tons of work, takes a ridiculous amount of time, and overheats the house. Often ingredients must be mixed just…

  • Not Normal

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    As anyone who follows my blog knows, I have been silent for several weeks. This was not by choice, but by circumstance. I want to try to explain why because I hope to encourage others to embrace who they are in whatever situation they may find themselves. Life is not one size fits all. Every…

  • The Assignment

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    “Today’s writing assignment is to write a one page short story using this picture.” “It’s a rowboat!” “I don’t know how to write about a rowboat!” “That’s a wooden framework, y’all.” Now, kids, there are many elements in the picture. There’s a sunset, and water, and a boat, and you’re right, some kind of wooden…

  • Book Review: On Mother’s Lap

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    My babies may be just a little too big for Mommy’s lap these days, but that doesn’t stop them from enjoying the magic of this book. On Mother’s Lap is about a little boy who wants all of his favorite things to share his favorite place. Michael and Mother rock and rock on a cold…

  • The Cafe

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    The Cafe was still there, tucked away in its remote little corner. The structures surrounding it had grown even older and more drably brown with time, a stark contrast to its bright colors and neat facade. In the afternoon light it almost seemed a sun unto itself. The evening rush had not begun, and the…