Comments on: On Father’s Day

By: Georgina Briody

Georgina Briody — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 07:54:31 +0000

As I started to read today’s story, my thoughts immediately returned to my father taking me out on a Sunday morning to a park or market and then, wow, I stopped in my tracks when I read on and realised who the ‘mother and daughters’ were. The innocence of childhood and then, over time, the realisation.

Very brave of you to share such intimate family details and poignant. What a memory to carry with you through life. I’m sure we all have difficult memories to come to terms with and rationalise.

Thank you for telling this story.

By: Mary Gillender

Mary Gillender — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 19:33:30 +0000

Wow. That was like watching a short, stylishly-directed film. Amazing.

By: Cherub

Cherub — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 11:12:58 +0000

Years ago I think a lot of things like this went on discretely, it was a different era. Children are very curious by nature.

Sadly my husband did not have a good father / son relationship with his dad as his late mother was a very difficult and domineering woman. His dad worked 60 hour weeks partly to get out of the house and when he was at home took her side on everything, purely for a quiet life. He was also barred from having a social life or drinking alcohol. My husband always maintains his dad wasn’t a man in his own home and he should have faced up to his mother more as she had some very extreme views. He has a loss of respect for him because of this. His mother would easily fall out with family, neighbours and friends and never speak to them again (myself included, when she died in 2019 she hadn’t spoken to me for 34 years.)

Thankfully things have mellowed slightly since my mother in law died. My husband sees more of his father now when he visits London, but only because his father is now in his late 80s and he does not want to have bad memories of him. He visited his mother a lot when she was dying but sadly she was still bitter and twisted towards him on her death bed. Some things never change and we have to just get on with it.

By: Mok

Mok — Sun, 18 Jun 2023 23:08:38 +0000

What a memory afforded you by time. I wonder if your mum had much say in what was going on , I’m imagining not. I wonder why you were taken along. Whilst finding your telling of the story very engaging , it has left me feeling rather sad for your mum. Unless of course , it was a mutual arrangement.

By: Dorothy V. Malcolm

Dorothy V. Malcolm — Sun, 18 Jun 2023 22:23:34 +0000

Love your stories, so vibrant, humorous, and sensitive. This one was priceless, like a masterclass in the study of innocence!

— Dorothy V. Malcolm

By: Phil Maxwell

Phil Maxwell — Sun, 18 Jun 2023 19:49:00 +0000

Incredible. Thanks for this. I’m sure the poignancy of your memories will resonate with many in different ways.

By: Beth Kennedy

Beth Kennedy — Sun, 18 Jun 2023 15:51:59 +0000

amazing experience, and change in perception and understand over time

By: Don Marsden

Don Marsden — Sun, 18 Jun 2023 14:14:37 +0000

house of ill repute providing services which enabled a family to stay together & satisfying the desires of men unable to cope with their emotions or sexual desires, probably did your mother a great service all in all, shame it’s not on the NHS service providers today. can’t believe they didn’t put a lock on the door!

By: Lynne Perrella

Lynne Perrella — Sun, 18 Jun 2023 12:55:08 +0000

Sometimes, within a lavish piece of great writing, we find a gem that lifts us far above.

“…….in this knowledge that had been newly granted.”

This phrase, near the end, made me just stop and go into a reverie. It so perfectly captures so many impossible-to-quantify things. Happily, it did not break the spell of this story — but brought me inside, where I could explore all the shadings.

Newly granted, indeed.
Thank you, GA.

By: Christine Swan

Christine Swan — Sun, 18 Jun 2023 11:04:21 +0000

We always think of our parents as just that when we are children. We take the selfish view that they exist for us My father was at times, a very difficult person to get on with and my parents’ relationship, turbulent. When clearing their house, I found a series of letters which I wished I hadn’t. I don’t know why Mum kept them. Perhaps it was for me to see what a difficult time she had had, some of which I remember. But, despite it all, they stayed together. I have the dilemma of what to do with said letters. I feel I should symbolically burn them.
Your parents seemed to reach something mine never did – comprise. As see through your childish eyes, this is fascinating. Thanks GA.