tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35507576.post1861038847895122850..comments2023-09-28T06:41:43.408-05:00Comments on Fairly Odd Mother: Mighty Oak Raped by Aging MegalomaniacFairly Odd Motherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11974404093257620566noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35507576.post-53123088077164463912007-07-10T21:56:00.000-05:002007-07-10T21:56:00.000-05:00I can't make it through Scooby Doo books without g...I can't make it through Scooby Doo books without getting all choked up. My kids laugh at me, and I just sit there and try to breathe, so caught up in the emotion of Shaggy's moment, or Velma's brilliance. Once, when I was substitute teaching for a class of first graders, I read The Velveteen Rabbit and you know what happened. ("I AM real" said the bunny.) Afterwards, I asked the kids what they thought, and one kid raised his hand and said, "You were CRYING!"<BR/><BR/>Yeah. Shel Silverstein rocks and anyone who doesn't get it simply doesn't.Ruth Dynamitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06161626814106717754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35507576.post-40158638538671480632007-07-03T01:47:00.000-05:002007-07-03T01:47:00.000-05:00Awwww man...that story always makes me cry *sniff*...Awwww man...that story always makes me cry *sniff*Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35507576.post-4571580703464616652007-06-26T22:07:00.000-05:002007-06-26T22:07:00.000-05:00Okay, I like *your* interpretation and it rather r...Okay, I like *your* interpretation and it rather redeems Silverstein for me, too. I like his other stuff, but this book, I admit has never been one I liked. Not before kids, not since kids. And I promise, I'm not a cruel, unloving parent (no really, I'm not!) I just rather hope that my sons grow up to be givers, not takers. I didn't mind the tree being so giving, I just hated that the boy/man never really seemed to get it.<BR/><BR/>But, whenever I hear of it from now on, I'll think of "stump" as "after I'm dead" rather than when I'm destitute in a nursing home and that'll be a little better. ;-DAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35507576.post-23221570359426692462007-06-25T16:53:00.000-05:002007-06-25T16:53:00.000-05:00I have a 7 year old and have become more and more ...I have a 7 year old and have become more and more acutely aware of how the fruitless tree, the trunk, and finally the stump feels. I see him moving further and further away from me each day while my love for him grows and grows. I wish I could grab him and hold on to him forever, unfortunately I can't, I'm a stump. Love your post, I'm adding you to my site.Gray Matter Mattershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04229890109467300091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35507576.post-10210003727780054912007-06-24T10:49:00.000-05:002007-06-24T10:49:00.000-05:00I agree, it's a great book! I had no idea there w...I agree, it's a great book! I had no idea there was such contraversy about it. <BR/><BR/>Great post!Jennifer https://www.blogger.com/profile/08191366421121919596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35507576.post-34730625126813492902007-06-23T22:47:00.000-05:002007-06-23T22:47:00.000-05:00Lovely post. The little guy got this book as a chr...Lovely post. The little guy got this book as a christening gift. I clearly remember sitting at the dining room table, after all the guests had left and we finally cleaned up, reading this book and SOBBING. Hubby came down the stairs and was frightened because I couldn't even talk-- hiccupping and sputtering-- and just pointed to the book. After reading this story for so many years, I never really got the meaning until I became a parent. We never really know unconditional love until we have a child. I am now that tree, and while I hope our kids don't just visit when they need fruit or to cut off our branches, I know we'd give until we were just old stumps. Sigh...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35507576.post-48928099841643907952007-06-22T16:33:00.000-05:002007-06-22T16:33:00.000-05:00LOVED this post! And I am right there with you - ...LOVED this post! And I am right there with you - I would have been warbling my way through the whole book.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02086167716210736774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35507576.post-15914456115149875962007-06-22T13:48:00.000-05:002007-06-22T13:48:00.000-05:00You explained this so beautifully!I never knew abo...You explained this so beautifully!<BR/><BR/>I never knew about any issues until the message board wags pointed it out to me a couple years ago. To me it's a beautiful story about how giving can make you feel good even if you get nothing in return. I wonder if it were about a little girl and a tree if people would see it differently.Mom101https://www.blogger.com/profile/15468524489744839899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35507576.post-36626821166990093242007-06-22T08:15:00.000-05:002007-06-22T08:15:00.000-05:00I love this book and I cry even now when I read it...I love this book and I cry even now when I read it to my children. Perhaps I am fool, but this book has always a held a profound lessen as to who we are as a society. Very few of us give without the expectation of something in return. However we have no problem taking from other people and taking from mother nature, always hoping they have a little more to give. This book reminds me I need to be a better person.<BR/><BR/>Pooh on those people at Amazon!Thank you for the great post :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35507576.post-50477354126888029872007-06-21T19:41:00.000-05:002007-06-21T19:41:00.000-05:00100% - I remember this from my childhood and feel ...100% - I remember this from my childhood and feel my tears welling as I type. In that perfect way that feels good and rich and full.<BR/><BR/>xoxonuttnbunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07432059241825312897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35507576.post-52773235392448336732007-06-20T22:43:00.000-05:002007-06-20T22:43:00.000-05:00You know...I always felt a little disconcerted by ...You know...I always felt a little disconcerted by that book, but could never put my finger on why. I had no idea there was such a controversial subtext, but it kind of makes sense. I can't presume to guess what Shel Silverstein meant, but I like your interpretation very much. <BR/><BR/>BTW, I cry everytime I read "I'll Love You Forever" by Robert Munsch. I can barely get through it.Blog Antagonisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09378330862349859998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35507576.post-74081358063077999972007-06-20T21:50:00.000-05:002007-06-20T21:50:00.000-05:00That darn book makes me cry every time too. I neve...That darn book makes me cry every time too. I never understood the controversy, but I suppose they have a small point. However, I think those who have a real problem with that book aren't parents.Chicky Chicky Babyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18056206889322232109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35507576.post-39417202004868212032007-06-20T15:27:00.000-05:002007-06-20T15:27:00.000-05:00Ok, I am a cryer too, but when I read this book I ...Ok, I am a cryer too, but when I read this book I didn't cry. Of course your post, has me weaping at the keyboard!<BR/> <BR/>Like you, I saw the tree as a mother figure, always giving, never asking in return for anything. Just enjoying company. Perhaps those who think otherwise are not parents or are just crazies!<BR/><BR/>I loved the title of your post.<BR/>Thanks for posting this.Moments Of Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07125803464469304079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35507576.post-70610799632121337642007-06-20T09:33:00.000-05:002007-06-20T09:33:00.000-05:00Thanks for the morning cry. Except for the title ...Thanks for the morning cry. Except for the title which made me laugh out loud.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35507576.post-32663977112791342312007-06-20T07:48:00.000-05:002007-06-20T07:48:00.000-05:00I think the reason the book is so good is that it ...I think the reason the book is so good is that it forces these questions for us.OhTheJoyshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05031731198115388411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35507576.post-78435767943688015862007-06-20T07:46:00.000-05:002007-06-20T07:46:00.000-05:00Oh shoot, now you've got me crying too.I have to l...Oh shoot, now you've got me crying too.<BR/><BR/>I have to leave to go pick mine up from school in about 5 minutes. I think I have to give them an extra big hug and kiss today. (The squishy kind that makes 6 year old boys squirm away and say Mo-ommmmm.)Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02409530202277375625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35507576.post-35557320031021046852007-06-20T07:03:00.000-05:002007-06-20T07:03:00.000-05:00Oh my gosh that was a beautiful post. You made ME...Oh my gosh that was a beautiful post. You made ME cry now. And you made me feel sorry for being annoyed with my children for eating the entire mega box of granola bars and letting their wet swimsuits drip on the floor. I am blessed to have children. Being annoyed proves that I am alive and blessed with children and now I have to cry and drink coffee a pot of coffee. Thanks for the reminder about the meaning of parenting... sniff, snuff.Mary Alicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08923591889426758103noreply@blogger.com