I remember writing my first rescue story when I was eight. The title was Mr. Skunk Receives a Christmas. It was a tale of hope for those feeling less than and left out.
“No one wanted to spend time and have fun with Mr. Skunk. The day before Christmas, Mr. Skunk was walking through the woods. He saw a tiny bunny about to be a snack for Mr. Coyote. Mr. Skunk put his own life in danger, lifted his tail, and scared Mr. Coyote away. The baby bunny was saved.
When the other creatures shared the good news, they thanked Mr. Skunk. The thank you was his Christmas gift. He finally felt like he did something right-The End.“
Why I Wrote The Story
My mom was a meticulous housekeeper: no messes, no dust, no wrinkles, no grime, and no imperfections. Even during summer break from school, Sis and I were not allowed to go out and play until all the chores were done. I knew how to do everything domestic by the time I was eight years old, including ironing. She was never happy with me or my work, no matter how hard I tried to please her.
And so, the reveal is that the actual character in my Mr. Skunk story was me. It was the first time I used writing to heal the pain of not feeling good enough.
Neither of my parents took many pictures of their children. My sister and I have searched for a picture of Wayne and us together without success. There are only a few of me, and I think my facial expression shows what is going on inside. Not a Happy Camper!
It might be worthwhile to think about a comment Judge Lynn Toler said on her TV show one day: “Angry all day long never fixed anything.”
The hopeful news is anger can be cured. To any parents who might be overwhelmed, depressed, and feeling alone, please remember: Your first mission field is how you treat your children behind closed doors. It should be their time for fun and discovery, not their first battleground.
No adult/parent can change what they do not acknowledge about themselves, as complicated as that can sometimes be. No child is responsible for being born. They should be valued by their parents instead of feeling unworthy of their time and feeling like a burden to them.
Please don’t recycle the anger, hurt, and disappointment of your own childhood. Children are innocent beings at the mercy of their parents. Break the chains. Be the mom or dad they deserve and believe in. Give them a solid foundation of self-confidence and self-worth so they will be happy and successful in life.
I find it interesting that many therapists encourage those seeking change to write down their thoughts and feelings on a daily basis. It is my good fortune that the need to write came naturally and early in my life. When I pray, I always thank God, The Loving Creator, for being a writer.
MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES
Most importantly, seek professional help if your anger, depression, or any other circumstance prevents you from moving forward to reclaim peace and purpose in your life. As a starting point that you can check out in private are two joy-saving resources online. The links below will take you to the landing page, where you can search for the concerns you need more information about.
Tough Cookie Question: How do you want your children to remember you? Time is precious and not promised. All you have to do is follow your children’s lead. They instinctively know how to give unconditional love, forgive, and how to have fun. Tell your children and show them how much they mean to you. If every child grew up feeling loved and valued, it would change the world.
Copyright © 2022-2025 Marilyn K Fuller. All Rights Reserved.
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Love how you are giving a resource for readers who may need it. I don’t remember that story about Mr Skunk. I guess that means we are going to have to stop calling you Mr. Marilyn and start calling you Mr. Skunk🦨
Not the best upbringing for you, but I know Hayes loved his mom’s parenting!