Category Archives: childhood

above water.

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i first crossed paths

with this brave and amazing future author (trish kearney)

years ago on her blog:

“my thoughts on a page”

https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/8642668

where she wrote about

her family, her careers, her loves and losses, her daily life in ireland

when i later traveled to ireland

we met in person

(even though her children warned her i might really be a male serial killer)

we spent a great afternoon at an outdoor pub

near the water on a beautiful day

getting to know each other

i had no idea what her whole story was

until she began writing posts about her childhood

 floating the idea of writing her memoir

including painful buried trauma she had endured

as a young championship swimmer

over time she gained confidence

decided to tell her story

to find personal peace

to hold her tormentor responsible

to no longer be a victim

to help others who might not be ready to speak.

what followed was

her book, “above water”

a podcast, “where is george gibney?”

and unforeseen consequences

both good and bad.

this is a book of truths

of regaining power over one’s own life

of bravery

of survival

 of living to tell the tale

of an unbroken spirit

of healing

of helping others.

i give it my highest personal recommendation

here’s to you, tric, and to all who suffer in silence

you are their brave voice for each and every one of them

and i’m so proud to call you my friend.

“you don’t drown by falling in the water; you drown by staying there.”

-Edwin Louis Cole 

 

“above water” is available at:

the book depository (paperback – free worldwide shipping)

https://www.bookdepository.com/Above-Water/9781529333640

 

amazon u.s. – kindle format (and on june 21 (presale) in paperback) in the u.s.

amazon uk – available now

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Above-Water-Childhood-Enduring-Survivors-ebook/dp/B08HMPF1PP

Reviews:

Not an easy read but an essential one … an important book that celebrates the power of the human spirit―Irish Independent

A completely compelling book … this is ultimately a story of Trish Kearney’s triumph―Irish Times

Trish Kearney’s memoir is proof that the powerless and betrayed can survive and triumph―Sunday Independent

An extraordinary story, at times heart-breaking but ultimately inspiring. Trish’s courage, her determination and her warmth light up those dark secret places―Woman’s Way

A powerful story beautifully told―Irish Examiner

Inspirational―Sunday Business Post

About the Author

Trish Kearney is a writer and mother of five living in Cork, Ireland. Her weekly ‘It’s My Life’ column ran in the Irish Examiner for over two years. She also has a popular blog, ‘My Thoughts on a Page’ and was awarded Best Personal Blog and Best Writer at the Irish Parenting Blog Awards in 2015.
Above Water is her first book.

mud-soaked.

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finding the mud was such a delight

starting out slow

checking how deep it was with a stick

walking, then running, then jumping, then splashing

only one ‘quicksand’ victim who we unstuck

boots dumped out after

filled with water dirt wood chips, rocks, sticks and unknown mushy things

ending with

a pair of mud-soaked socks

drying in the sun

and so much tired fun.

” mud is the most poetical thing in the world.”

-reginald horace blyth

 

show or tell?

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not my baby brother, but a similar-sized baby with one more hair. 
my brother was born
when i was in my very early elementary years
i was so excited when he was born
he was the newest thing our family after all
i wanted to bring him in to share with my class
during show and tell
i couldn’t believe it when my mom
refused to let me take him on the bus and bring him in
telling me i had to bring a picture of him instead
i was furious
i couldn’t believe it
she was so mean
the nerve of her
i ended up showing his picture
told stories about how he cried and was loud and smelled but was cute
and years later
when i had my own children
i kind of got it.
“maybe there’s room for both, telling as well as showing. it’s something to think about.”
― a.d. aliwat

dangerous games.

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oh, how i would have loved to see this exhibit

i played with each and every one of these games

and lived to tell. 

 

“parents shouldn’t assume children are made out of sugar candy and will break and collapse instantly.

kids don’t.

we do.”

-maurice sendak

confidence.

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 when you choose

to step out of your comfort zone

to dip your lucky charms into ranch dressing

and fully enjoy eating them that way

no matter how others react

that is confidence. 

“i have made the choices that work best for me. i know i cannot please everyone, and that’s fine.”

-marlee matlin

rocks.

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it took a while and a team of busy gatherers

but the kinder were happy to announce

they had collected and lined up

79 rocks

and that equals 1 museum. 

 

“as with other phases of nature, I have probably loved the rocks more than I have studied them.’

-john burroughs

yellow.

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the kinder create with loose parts

dressed all in yellow. 

clearly in their yellow period. 

 

 

“yellow is the color which is closest to light.

we associate the rays of the sun and the stars with it.

it is the radiance of the spirit.”

– ueli seiler-hugova

parenthood.

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advice from the kinder to the parents of a classmate’

about how to take care of their new baby.

one so sweet

one filled with adventure 

all the others equally from the heart

everyone has their own unique way of approaching parenthood.

“folks, i don’t trust children. they’re here to replace us.”

  • stephen colbert

options.

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b tells me these are the ‘options’

for ordering from his coffee/hot cocoa shop

i can certainly appreciate that he has organized it so beautifully.

now that they’re all laid out

it will be much easier to choose.

“it’s easy to make good decisions when there are no bad options.”

-robert hall

 

rapunzel reimagined.

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not to be outdone

after one of his classmates

dramatically hung her long braid down from the tower

declaring she was rapunzel

ih decided he wanted to be rapunzel too

 dramatically hanging his bangs down from the tower

declaring he was rapunzel

and it’s true

you can never have too many rapunzels.