Comment from MissMerri

Excellent

This is such a sad story, and I can certainly imagine it must have been very difficult to tell, but you did an excellent job with it. I'm so sorry you suffered such unfair treatment as a child. I was a teacher for many years, and it was an unspoken rule we did nothing to embarrass a student. That was so odd of Mr. Stevens, but if it helped you to believe in yourself, then maybe it wasn't all wrong. Thanks for sharing your stories. Your writing is free of errors and very easy to read.

 Comment Written 01-May-2017

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reply by the author on 01-May-2017

thank you for your thoughtful review. I'm not sure what Mr. Stevens' problem was. I wasn't the only one he embarrassed during that year. He was an odd duck. Reasonable sure that in today's word, he would be fired over some of the things he did.
~patty~

Comment from Ulla

Excellent

Hi Patty, what can I say. This is hard and so sad at the same time. I just hope it's helping you writing about it and get it all out in the open. I feel for you. All the best. Ulla:)))

 Comment Written 30-Apr-2017

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reply by the author on 30-Apr-2017

thank you so much for reading and reviewing. Yes, it really is helping to write about it,
~patty~

reply by Ulla on 30-Apr-2017

I can imagine. It's traumatic and writing about it must help. Ulla:)))

Comment from Rasmine

Excellent

Mr.stevens sounds like an ass; your father sounded worse. I loved it when you said that you never saw him again. But whatever happened--it's not a child's fault. I'm so sorry Patty, again.

 Comment Written 30-Apr-2017

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reply by the author on 30-Apr-2017

Hi Rasmine; all of this stuff happened a long time ago, and I've learned to deal with it. Writing about it seems to closed that final door. I've found myself feeling a great deal of relief over the past few weeks. Thanks for reading along,
~patty~

Comment from mbroyles2

Excellent

I admire your courage in exposing this episode of your life. I'm sure when your grandchildren read it will deepen their respect that have for you.
So well told with great reflection and emotion.
Michael

 Comment Written 30-Apr-2017

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reply by the author on 30-Apr-2017

Hi Michael; thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful review. I hope my grandchildren will see these stories as a look into my soul,
~patty~

Comment from giraffmang

Excellent

Hi Patty,

I am reminded of the old saying 'The sins of the father...' We end up paying for a lot of the actions of our parents. Sometimes it's not all bad though.

This is a very well written instalment of a harrowing experience. I have to admit though that I'm not sure about how to view past experiences and attributing so much to them. It comes from a certain perspective which is coloured by various experiences and input from others as well.

I remember a friend of mine seeing a psychiatrist and he came out so bitter about his childhood I didn't recognise him. I'd known him since I was four and he'd only ever spoken of a great time growing up. My mum just had a very similar experience this year.

Undoubtedly some have horrific upbringings, but sometimes I think we can colour the past with hindsight and misinterpretations.

Emotional write.
G

 Comment Written 30-Apr-2017

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reply by the author on 30-Apr-2017

Hi G; I appreciate your time to read and review. I can see your point about peoples' perceptions about the past. I've been in therapy off and on for almost forty years and the story hasn't changed - but there is one side, the other person's side, and the truth.
The good news is that I'm finding myself having a sense of completion with each chapter and story I write.
I appreciate your continued support of my work,
~patty~

Comment from bookishfabler

Excellent

Wow, I read about people here and what tramas they all went through. It is so sad. I didn't have a perfect childhood, but I know I was pretty happy. One nit



Twelve(-)year(-) old(')s(plural) have enough issues in dealing with

hugs Heidi

 Comment Written 29-Apr-2017

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reply by the author on 29-Apr-2017

Hi Heidi; thank you so much for reading this piece. I appreciate you pointing out the nit - I went back and fixed it. There are a great many of us FanStorians that suffered through rough childhoods - I think that's why we write.
~patty~

reply by bookishfabler on 29-Apr-2017

Probably

Comment from F. Wehr3

Excellent

Nice work on this part, Patty. It's a difficult recount of an awful experience. I made a couple of notes for your consideration.

Bless her heart; she gave me extra assignments and I wasn't absent one day during that year. --In the south, the expression "bless her/his heart" has a very different connotation. It means that the person is feeble-minded. Also, I recommend a comma before and.

It seems that I was trying to prove to myself--Recommend switching to a past tense verb.

Take care,
Russell

 Comment Written 29-Apr-2017

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reply by the author on 29-Apr-2017

Hi Russell; thank you so much for stopping by to read and review. I appreciate your thoughtful notes - I went in and made the edits - I got rid of 'bless her heart.' Your comments are much appreciated,
~patty~

Comment from Margaret Snowdon

Excellent

You're very brave to bring your past into the light again...
.
I guess perhaps I'm a coward when it comes to the past,
since it's taken me so many years to let it go and leave it
where it belongs - in the past. I couldn't bear to stir such
memories up again.

this is such a well written chapter, Patty - making it a pleasure to read.

"Patty, come over here(,) darlin'

Margaret

 Comment Written 29-Apr-2017

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reply by the author on 29-Apr-2017

Hi Margaret; thank you so much for your thoughtful review. I appreciate you catching the nit - I went and did the edit.
With this writing, I'm able to put the past behind me. After all of the years of therapy and counseling, formalizing this chapter allowed me to let go of the nightmare - thanks for reading along,
~patty~

Comment from Sandra du Plessis

Excellent

A very well-written chapter. Adults don't always realize how they influence our lives with what the do and say, either good or bad. In your instance it influence you to achieve your potential and more.

 Comment Written 29-Apr-2017

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reply by the author on 29-Apr-2017

Hi Sandra; thank you for your warm review of this chapter. I appreciate your thoughts and encouraging comments,
~patty~

Comment from Bichon

Excellent

First off, I want to apologise with my absence of reviewing and I will try to catch up as best I can :).

Anyways, back to the review. I can relate to this story, the first part, about how school was boring. I find it boring too, although I don't get very good results on tests. I just think, how many of this stuff am I actually going to use when I'm an adult, I still don't know.
I am so sorry to hear what your father did to you, I highly doubt you deserved any of it. I am happy that you are happy and have a wonderful family and life now.

 Comment Written 29-Apr-2017

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reply by the author on 29-Apr-2017

Chloe; thank you for reading and reviewing this piece. You are so right - I have a wonderful life now - in spite of what happened in the past. It is my intention that reading this story will give others hope. Though it may seem very dark, there is light at the end of the tunnel,
~patty~