Wisdom and the Plastic Frog.
Thank you, Wendy, for inviting me to join you on your beautiful blog. As you know, I mostly write non-fiction, and so I thought I’d share a story and some child wisdom.
I am the mom to four grown children and four grandchildren; each I adore for a long list of reasons. My story involves the youngest son, who was in grade school at the time.
He and his classmates had gone on a school trip to Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts. Upon return, he excitedly presented me a gift – a plastic frog. I wasn’t sure what to say when I saw the frog, but my son quickly exclaimed, “He has your favorite colors, Mommy.” And sure enough, the frog was green with shades of fall. I contained my laughter and told him I loved my frog (what mother wouldn’t?), and the colors were perfect!
I thought about this exchange on New Year’s Eve, and realized that my favorite gifts were ones that brought me laughter. I’m not one for making resolutions, but given the turmoil in the world and particularly within the United States, I decided to make my first and only resolution: When times get crazy, I will focus on the plastic frog.
Now for a bit of granddaughter wisdom. Little Margot is a character. If someone tells her not to do something, she will surely do it. One day I accompanied six-year-old Margot and her brother Nate to the supermarket. Her dad, my eldest son, was driving. Out of the blue, Margot looked at me and declared, “If you and Granddad were still married, you’d have a dog!” Nate was horrified and whispered to her, “We are not supposed to talk about that!” Margot gave him a look, and turned to see my reaction. When I told her about the dog I was getting, she was happy and then insisted on going to a park.
The moral of the story: hold on to what makes you smile and remember it’s the dog that matters, not the drama.
I am the mom to four grown children and four grandchildren; each I adore for a long list of reasons. My story involves the youngest son, who was in grade school at the time.
He and his classmates had gone on a school trip to Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts. Upon return, he excitedly presented me a gift – a plastic frog. I wasn’t sure what to say when I saw the frog, but my son quickly exclaimed, “He has your favorite colors, Mommy.” And sure enough, the frog was green with shades of fall. I contained my laughter and told him I loved my frog (what mother wouldn’t?), and the colors were perfect!
I thought about this exchange on New Year’s Eve, and realized that my favorite gifts were ones that brought me laughter. I’m not one for making resolutions, but given the turmoil in the world and particularly within the United States, I decided to make my first and only resolution: When times get crazy, I will focus on the plastic frog.
Now for a bit of granddaughter wisdom. Little Margot is a character. If someone tells her not to do something, she will surely do it. One day I accompanied six-year-old Margot and her brother Nate to the supermarket. Her dad, my eldest son, was driving. Out of the blue, Margot looked at me and declared, “If you and Granddad were still married, you’d have a dog!” Nate was horrified and whispered to her, “We are not supposed to talk about that!” Margot gave him a look, and turned to see my reaction. When I told her about the dog I was getting, she was happy and then insisted on going to a park.
The moral of the story: hold on to what makes you smile and remember it’s the dog that matters, not the drama.
 In Letting Go into Perfect Love: Discovering the Extraordinary After Abuse, Gwen bravely recounts a violent marriage that lasted twenty-five-years--and the faith that opened her heart to hope, to trust, and to awe again. As a survivor who came out of the relationship determined to start new, Gwen artfully depicts the challenges and triumphs of balancing the obligations of motherhood and career with her family's healing process. Alternately heart-wrenching and joyful, Letting Go into Perfect Love is a powerful story of triumph over adversity-one woman's inspiring account of learning how to forgive the unforgiveable, recover her sense of self, open her heart, and honor the journey |  |
Contact Gwendolyn:
Gwendolyn’s website: www.gwenplano.com;
Twitter: @gmplano
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GwendolynMPlano/
Book Available Amazon US
https://www.amazon.com/Letting-into-Perfect-Love-Extraordinary-ebook/dp/B00K7WYTW6
Gwendolyn’s website: www.gwenplano.com;
Twitter: @gmplano
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GwendolynMPlano/
Book Available Amazon US
https://www.amazon.com/Letting-into-Perfect-Love-Extraordinary-ebook/dp/B00K7WYTW6
