Sunday Post: Landscapes and a February Poetry Contest

Posted on February 26, 2012 by viviankirkfield

Jake at Time after Time has a Sunday Post Challenge and every week he provides a theme…this week’s theme is LANDSCAPES.

In addition, Marylin Warner over at Things I Want to Tell My Mother is having a February Poetry Contest

The Rules:

“Be a rebel with a writing cause; break away from the expected February verses and write a poem about a date or an activity or adventure that WASN’T what you (or your mother) wanted to do…and how it ended.

You choose: rhymed, free verse, a sonnet or a series of Haikus or even non-bawdy limericks, etc. Just keep your poem to a maximum of 50 words (not counting the words of the title–and please have a title). JOIN THE FUN!”

I began to wonder how I could combine these two seemingly unrelated ideas into one post.

And then I had an idea!

According to the dictionary, a landscape is a picture representing a view or expanse of scenery that can be seen in a single view.

My poem, Fears of the Inner Child, is really a landscape of my life. I hope you enjoy reading it.

FEARS OF THE INNER CHILD

Childhood often invades adult life.

Fears laid down early create later strife.

Afraid of adventure and trying new things,

Mom constantly cautioned: Be careful! Life stings!

To conquer that panic is my fervent wish.

I’ve parasailed, skydived and swum with the fish.

If you have the time and want to see the sky-dive I did with my son in the summer of 2010, you can go here.

It was an amazing adventure…and a wonderful bonding experience to have with an adult son. With my book, Show Me How! and my school programs and workshops, I encourage parents to spend time with their young children…reading, crafting and cooking or doing anything positive. “Raising the Next Steve Jobs”, the cover story in the February issue of Parenting Magazine, offered parents some simple advice: read with your children, talk with your children, participate with your children. I was quoted in that article…and my book was mentioned. You know that if want to be in your children’s memories tomorrow, you need to be in their lives today. The fantastic skydive I did with my son only strengthened the connection we forged over thirty years ago when he was a little boy…believe me, those early years are so very important!

If you’d like more information about Jake’s Sunday Post:

http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/

And here are a few of the posts from other participants in Jake’s Sunday Post:

http://imagesoftheheart.wordpress.com/2012/02/25/sunday-post-landscape/

http://reflectionsinapuddle.wordpress.com/2012/02/25/sunday-post-landscape/

http://truthaboveallreligions.wordpress.com/2012/02/25/sunday-post-landscape/

http://orples.wordpress.com/2012/02/26/sunday-photo-challenge-landscapes/

http://thismansjourney.net/2012/03/04/sunday-post-landscape/#comments

114 thoughts on “Sunday Post: Landscapes and a February Poetry Contest”

island traveler on March 4, 2012 at 5:10 am said:

Now that is one thrilling landscape…Up, up and away…or shall I say, clear the road below…What a fun, exciting post.

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dawn on March 4, 2012 at 5:52 pm said:

Lovely poem! I’m certainly not brave enough to skydive, but I do try to do things that put me out of my comfort zone.

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- viviankirkfield on March 5, 2012 at 12:24 am said:
  
  Hi Dawn,
  I think that is the key…doing things outside our comfort zone…it makes us stronger and opens our horizons…and makes us feel better about ourselves also.
  Thanks for stopping by and commenting. 🙂
  
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Elizabeth on March 4, 2012 at 10:34 pm said:

I agree that you can never read to or talk with your children enough. They are precious and grow up very quickly.
Looks like you enjoyed your skydiving adventure.

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- viviankirkfield on March 5, 2012 at 12:45 am said:
  
  Hi Elizabeth…nice to meet you. 🙂
  Children do grow up so very quickly…I think sometimes we are so looking forward to the “next” stage, we don’t enjoy or appreciate the one they are in. 🙂
  I did enjoy the skydiving adventure…as much for having done it with my son as for the adventure itself.
  
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Janis Meredith on March 5, 2012 at 1:18 am said:

You are brave to go sky diving with your son! Good for you!

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- viviankirkfield on March 5, 2012 at 4:22 am said:
  
  It’s funny, because I didn’t think of myself as brave at that moment…just that it was an adventure I would be having with my son…I was very comfortable during the entire experience…just wasn’t crazy about the pressure on my chest during the free fall. 🙂 So pleased you stopped by…thank you!
  
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Amanda on March 5, 2012 at 2:12 pm said:

That’s brave! Something I wouldn’t do…hah. 🙂 Plan to go again?

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- viviankirkfield on March 5, 2012 at 7:39 pm said:
  
  Hi Amanda,
  Thanks for stopping by.
  No, I don’t think I would go again…it’s really expensive…and I wasn’t crazy about the pressure on my chest during the free fall. 🙂 But I LOVED the gliding down…maybe I should try hang-gliding. 🙂 🙂
  
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Chelle on March 5, 2012 at 3:49 pm said:

Love the poem, but really love that you sky dived with your son. Wow.
Peace and good to you.

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- viviankirkfield on March 5, 2012 at 7:37 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much, Chelle! It was a wonderful experience…I really enjoy “hanging out” with my adult children…glad they love being with me also. 🙂
  
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Mystery Shopping Teacher on March 6, 2012 at 12:02 am said:

wow! I could NEVER skydive. I am terrified of heights and might have a heart attack before even jumping out of the plane lol. You are a brave woman.

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- viviankirkfield on March 6, 2012 at 1:47 am said:
  
  Hahaha! I think walking into a store as a mystery shopper takes quite a lot of courage…thanks for stopping by…love your blog! You must have some really interesting experiences to relate. 🙂
  
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Deborah Owen on March 6, 2012 at 2:39 am said:

Oh man, I wanted to go skydiving so bad! I envy you. *thumbs up* Thanks for the entertaining column. I enjoyed it.

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- viviankirkfield on March 6, 2012 at 4:51 am said:
  
  Hi Deborah,
  So nice to meet you…glad you enjoyed the post! Is skydiving on your bucket list? Perhaps one day you will do it…I’ve learned we can do just about anything we want to, if we just set our mind to it. 🙂
  
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Deanna on March 6, 2012 at 3:32 am said:

I am terrified of heights and could never sky dive. You are a very brave woman!

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- viviankirkfield on March 6, 2012 at 4:48 am said:
  
  Thanks for stopping by, Deanna. I think courage is doing what is outside your comfort zone…that could be skydiving…but it also could be taking a course at school or starting an exercise program to get in shape. 🙂 I don’t think of myself as brave…it was just a wonderful experience to have with my son!
  
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Healthy Frugalista on March 6, 2012 at 7:04 pm said:

Loved what you said about if you want to be in your kids memories tomorrow be in their lives today.

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- viviankirkfield on March 7, 2012 at 1:00 am said:
  
  So glad you stopped by. 🙂 You are 100% correct…that is a really important idea to remember when we get busy and think we hae no time to spend with your kids. That’s why I wrote the book…it makes spending quality to with kids a snap…quick and easy activities tied in with each picture book suggestion.:)
  
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Julie@teachinggoodeaters on March 7, 2012 at 1:43 am said:

Sometimes I think I’d like to skydive, but it seems that as time goes on, I have less and less nerve. I used to be much more brave, but being a mom has made me much more cautious…

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- viviankirkfield on March 7, 2012 at 3:53 am said:
  
  Hi Julie,
  Glad you came to visit!
  Being a mom is the bravest thing a person can ever do!!!!!! So please don’t feel you are not courageous…parenting takes a lot more courage than skydiving does. 🙂
  
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Women Are Gamechangers on March 7, 2012 at 2:29 am said:

I love skydiving. Hope you guys enjoyed it.

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- viviankirkfield on March 7, 2012 at 3:51 am said:
  
  It was a blast from the moment we arrived at the skydive facility…the pro who I jumped in tandem with was sweet and supportive and lots of fun.
  So glad you stopped by!
  
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lisacng (@lisacng) on March 7, 2012 at 3:18 am said:

Congrats on the mention of you and your book! Great advice to spend time with our kids because they do grow up so fast. My son is 18-mos and I’m trying to find a balance between letting him be independent and spending time with him.

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- viviankirkfield on March 7, 2012 at 3:49 am said:
  
  Hi Lisa,
  So glad you stopped by…you are 100% correct! Our children grow up so quickly…and it is difficult to find that balance…we don’t want to smother them and always be overshadowing them (helicopter mom:) and we don’t want to ignore them or tell them to do as they please. I guess setting rules early on is really important…and being consistent…and expecting our children to accept responsibility for what they do. In turn, we need to love them unconditionally and be supportive and participate in activities with them.
  
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keepitsimpleyay on March 7, 2012 at 3:34 am said:

How cool! I want my kids to always know I love them and want them to know that I’m always here for them and want to always be involved as their parent. This is an awesome thing!

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- viviankirkfield on March 7, 2012 at 3:44 am said:
  
  Thanks for stopping by! I love your attitude…kids do need to know we love them…we can’t take it for granted that they know…we need to tell them and show them every day. 🙂
  
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Amanda on March 7, 2012 at 5:42 am said:

A nice little poem for your entry!

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- viviankirkfield on March 9, 2012 at 5:32 am said:
  
  Glad you liked it, Amanda. Thanks for stopping by…hope you come back again.
  
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Ashley L on March 7, 2012 at 9:02 am said:

Spending more time with my children is something that I’m being called to do. The problem is that I’ve never been good at managing my time and I better start figuring that out before the years slip away from me more than they already have. Thanks for the reminder.

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- viviankirkfield on March 9, 2012 at 5:31 am said:
  
  Hi Ashley,
  I think many of us have that problem of time management. 🙂 It’s not easy to find the time to do everything…so I guess we have to decide which parts of our lives we will make a priority and which will be delegated to the back burner. And we can always ask for help (we may not always get it though.:)
  
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Nichole @ readitagainmama on March 7, 2012 at 6:36 pm said:

Great post. With three little guys I really hope to make an impact in their lives today to build memories that will last forever. Love your poem.

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- viviankirkfield on March 9, 2012 at 5:29 am said:
  
  Thank you, Nicole. You are so right…we have so much opportunity when our children are young to be great role models and to have a positive influence on them that will set them on the path to living up to their potential. It is sad when parents don’t step up and do that.
  
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JulieK on March 7, 2012 at 7:50 pm said:

It is wonderful that you have conquered your fears and done these amazing things! I definitely would be too afraid to do any but maybe the fish one…but luckily I don’t really have a burning desire for those types of adventures! 🙂 Thanks for the great thought – in poetry no less!

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- viviankirkfield on March 9, 2012 at 5:26 am said:
  
  Glad you enjoyed the post, Julie. I think we never know what we are capable until we are tested. 🙂 I know that I can do a lot more than I ever thought I could. It is an experience I will never forget. 🙂
  
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shelly on March 7, 2012 at 9:52 pm said:

what a mom to skydive with your son! i’m afraid i’ll have to pass that one up myself, but i love to see parents and children doing things together!

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- viviankirkfield on March 9, 2012 at 5:23 am said:
  
  Thank you, Shelly. Whatever age they are, our children can be wonderful companions. 🙂 I had so much fun…and you can tell from the picture that Peter did also. 🙂
  
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Junebug on March 7, 2012 at 10:24 pm said:

I had to laugh for a minute because my cousin and I were planning on skydiving this summer to celebrate our 40th birthdays but I just adopted a baby and decided I couldn’t risk it. Maybe one day in the future my daughter and I can go together.
Just last week I when she fell asleep on me I skipped several planned activities so I could enjoy cuddling with her. It may not be practical but it is so worth it to me. Some friends say I will regret it later(her sleeping on me) but I think I would regret it if I don’t spend these quiet and not so quiet moments with her now.

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- Junebug on March 7, 2012 at 10:24 pm said:
  
  I, also, wanted to say I really liked your poem. 🙂
  
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  - viviankirkfield on March 9, 2012 at 5:21 am said:
    
    Thank you…and I loved your Leap Year Party ideas!!!!!
    
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- viviankirkfield on March 9, 2012 at 5:18 am said:
  
  Each parent needs to decide what is best for them and for their family. 🙂 If you read 100 parenting books, you will get 100 different parenting approaches. Pick what works for you and your baby and go with it. 🙂
  I am more willing to do adventuresome things now that I am older…I was timid and shy as a young person. 🙂
  Enjoy your beautiful baby…you are right…time goes so quickly and each stage advances to the next.
  
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