Some might call Parenthood cultural junk food. Whatever—for us, it’s more like emotional-slash-relational superfood. The Braverman clan has afforded us opportunities to discuss families and romantic relationships, autism, aging, and career passions, adolescence and young adulthood comfortably and naturally.
Gandhi said, “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”
In this sense, you are a warrior now. You have witnessed battle and been wounded, but you are valiant in your resilience. Forgiveness is love and love has no equal in power.
When I was 22 years old and had largely but not entirely quit making up lies, I accidentally killed an 8-year old boy named Brian who darted in front of my car.
Cancer does this too: makes you spend hours trying to figure out if you've learned any lessons from having cancer. Now that cancer is part of your lexicon, you see it everywhere.
Today, while pacing in the living room, she abruptly paused, put her cool hand on my arm, looked at me calmly and said in her mature voice "I love you." I could barely choke out “I love you too” and in an instant she let go and began pacing again. It was the first and last time she ever said those words to me.
You know he’ll never change. You think you’ll never leave. But then somehow you do. You’ve gone back before – but then you stay away. You get over him. You heal.
How long do I let this go on? The myth of life turning out happily ever after? My life hasn’t unfolded like that nor has it been for anyone else I know.
