Meredith Carson... Across the Pond and Back Again...

I promised my brother in law that I would share the fictional war journal that was written by my daughter Emma for a school project a couple of months ago.  Needless to say, she was given an A+ on this one, and her mama is a bit proud.  I used to teach fourth grade writing, and in my experience, this is rather extraordinary writing for a nine-year-old.  My apologies for tooting my own daughter's horn.  Of course she says that she doesn't like writing, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating.  Enjoy... April 17,1861 Do people on one side ever notice those who are not?  The ones who have not chosen sides are important too.  They call us neutrals.  Some of us write for newspapers.  We are good at it too.  Some stories seem to be like swimming across the Atlantic Ocean: never ending.  Of course it's hard to get news in a damp, dark dungeon.  The cruel blackness is blinding like a whip. April 18, 1861 Every morni...

I have this daughter who challenges me on a daily basis.  She sometimes shows me things about myself that I do not like.  She stretches me and makes me grow as a person.  She also makes me mad, makes me laugh, and makes me think.  Wasn't life easier when she just needed some milk and a nap?  I do love that girl, but we have our struggles.  Sometimes I am not perfect.  Sometimes I do not say the right words.  Should I simply overlook it when she wants to leave my house for school with a ponytail sprouting from her forehead like a unicorn horn while wearing her Dad's Panama Jack tank top from 1989 over a pair of tight sweatpants and snowboots?  Often I long for a rewind button; I know that some of our exchanges could  be infused with a little more motherly love and understanding, but truly she can not leave the house like that, right?  Enter the journal... The journal was Miss Smarty-Face's idea, and when she suggested it, I was im...

Since I shared some of Sophie's diary, I thought it would only be fair to invade Emma's privacy as well.  I just found a notebook of hers open on the bathroom counter.  Here is what I read... For What I'm About to do There are Some Rules. No hitting people with books. No slapping people on the bottom No doing things that involve someone else's underpants. Thank You! You might be wise to follow these rules yourself today.  

September 28, 2010 Last Thursday and Friday I had a fever for two days.  I did not feel good.  Not at all! September 29, 2010 I do not like waking up erlee!! November 10, 2010 Today my mom cut my fringe*.  My mom cut it neat and not in an angle for once. November 12, 2010 Today I had porridge for breakfest.  My mom made it.  She put in some relly sweet bananna and wallnuts and it tasted like cake.  ( Yay Mom!) November 16, 2010 I threw up on Sunday.  It was like a huge pile of green peas because I had macaroni and peas for dinner.  (This entry was accompanied by a detailed illustration.)   December 10, 2010 I did not brush my hair today.  It is like a rat's nest.  It is tangled. January 4, 2011 I went sledding on the winter vacation.  It was brilliant!  My Uncull came as well. January 10, 2011 I had Irish oats for breakfest.  It was bitter.  My mom will make it difrent next time. I see a ...