CONTENTS
O ne day I took Frankie and Michael to see Aunt Pearl and Uncle Al, Nana Sadie and their cousins Larry and Leon. Driving there Frank- ie saw a beautiful house on a hill. He said, “Mommy, isn’t that house beautiful?” I agreed that it was. “When are we go- ing to move to a new house, Mommy?” he asked. “It’s not because I want to make new friends, I just want a new house.” For a three and a half year old, Frankie was awfully conscious of wanting a new house. Nothing else that hap- pens in your life connects you so closely to another human being. To be a mother is be- yond taking on responsibility for a child, it is to be a part of each other for the rest of your lives. 154
141 SOUR PICKLES 141 I AM NOT A CUPCAKE 141 REVERSE PSYCHOLOGY 142 HOW I RAISED THE KIDS 142 WITHOUT LOSING MY MIND 145 HORSE SENSE 145 HEY, WATCH WHERE YOU’RE GOING
154 Kid Stories
156 THE OLD SWITCHEROO 156 SHOW BIZ 156 FROM THE MOUTHS OF BABES 156 LOVE AND PLAY-DOH 157 THE MIX MASTER 157 MELTING A MOTHER’S HEART 158 GOD, FOOD, AND FRANKIE 158 FAIR TRADE AGREEMENTS 159 SPECIAL OCCASION WORDS 159 BROTHERLY LOVE 161 NOW I LAY ME DOWN . . . 161 HAPPY THE CLOWN 164 SPRING BABY 164 STEPHEN LEON SHOOSTER ARRIVES 164 STEPHEN’S EARLY HACKING 176 WIGGLY AND SHMIGGLY 178 THE CONSPIRACY THEORY 178 I THINK I’LL TAKE A WALK 179 OOH-YA OOPS 179 STEPHEN STORIES 179 DON’T RUN BY THE POOL 180 LET SLEEPING FATHERS LIE 180 WHOOPS 180 TOUGH KIDS 181 JUST A LITTLE OFF THE SIDES 182 THE LONG WALK HOME
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