He’s not easy to shop for. He never wants anything. Or rather, everything he wants he has. When he does feel a need for some consumer product — some electronic components from Radio Shack, say, or a new mechanical pencil — he takes his own money and bikes to the store and buys it. Even his computer he saved up for on his own: didn’t spend any of his allowance or Christmas or birthday money for five years.
What do you do with a kid like that? I try to imagine what he might want if money were no object. And then wish that it weren’t.
.
for b.a.o. born 9/6/1994
Red Dragonfly 
very nice haibun! thanks for sharing! pamela
Thanks, Pamela!
a year older than my daughter. What sort of future will they inherit? Maybe you already gave him more than he’d want if money were no object.
I try not to think too much about the future thing. I try to comfort myself with the fact that my son is pretty practical and handy and has lots of basic survival skills. Mostly given to him by his father and not me, but whatever.
sorry to make you think about the future thing. My daughter’s disabled, so I think about it too much. All the time, actually. Anyway, I was thinking more about gifts of and to the heart. best wishes,
m
Oh… no problem, Mark. Yes, you have much more to worry about than I do. I’m sorry about that. I did understand what you meant about giving.
i surprised myself with the emotion in that note, too quickly tapped out. should have reflected first. but then, art can do that to us . . . thanks
I, too, was a kid who never wanted things.
So instead of a thing, give the gift of time well spent together doing something he really likes to do.
Thanks… we have always spent a lot of time together as a family, which I’m hoping is part of the reason he doesn’t feel a lot of neediness now. 🙂
Let him be his own man.
I have seldom read a haibun that really works. This does, big time.
You are cordially invited to visit ‘the zen space’, a showcase for haiku and related writings. http://thezenspace.wordpress.com
Kind regards,
M
____________
Marie Marshall
writer/poet/editor/blogger
Scotland
http://mairibheag.com
http://kvennarad.wordpress.com
Thanks so much for the kind words, Marie.
The zen space is quite impressive… a very nicely curated collection of very high-quality haiku.
one lucky kid if he’s got half your fun-spirited love of adventure and the talent to share it
Wow… I don’t think anyone’s ever accused me of having a sense of adventure before! Mostly what I have a love of is sitting at home reading and whining whenever anyone suggests going anywhere or doing anything. But yeah, fortunately the kid takes after his father and they go on adventures together…
Wow
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Thanks, Ash… I appreciate the kind words and the link.
My pleasure indeed! I should be doing it more often, you’re on fire!
i can particularly relate to this dream. i wasnt sure if i still had this icon i created and used in some places for a long time… i wasnt sure if i had it some place. or not. i do. i’m not sure which link to use tho. so i may try a couple. i hope you dont mind.
you have a great kid. he has a great mother and father. if we are answering your question… which doesnt really need an answer i know… however.. my reply is ~ just keep doing what you’ve been doing. seems like a very worthwhile way to raise a kid. …
one of my former icons:
or may be:
or may be:
[IMG]http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f127/1daWrick/blueplanefilterbg80p.png[/IMG]
(if one works you’ve seen it. they all go to the same sky)
flight
in each dream
I fly free
Of Arrange,certainly policy drink still able point card find limit appeal solicitor age grey unemployment smile lean able include cost middle employer entirely challenge picture pass far player debate black problem damage explanation equal late advantage publish credit recognition out wine answer properly presence relevant apply prospect much leadership ring fill which assess acid market care sure so take instruction direct works score undertake hardly couple industry scheme flight emphasis happy game now significance popular analysis return species noise roll importance reach call future design finance around test though become true
I have never read a spam comment more worthy of being published. Thank you.