Liesl Garner

Looks like a Tomato



Posted: Saturday, January 21, 2012

by Liesl Garner

Tomato

After I have read stories, sung songs, and tucked into bed my two little guys, my seven-year old says, "You know what's wierd?" We are hugging goodnight, and once again, he has made up another ritual for bedtime, prolonging the inevitable of sleep. He reminds me of his older brother, who, when he was 10 or 11 years old, would start every single sentence with one of three options: "Liesl, you know what's weird?" "Liesl, you know what's funny?" or "Liesl, you know what's cool?"

Returning the hug, and getting one last snuggle in, I whisper, "What's weird, honey?" Ben tells me that at school, when he's doing his word search, if he turns the paper over and looks at all the letters backwards, and if he finds a letter Q, it looks like a Tomato. I kiss him, and acknowledge that I can totally see that in my mind.

What a delightful bunch of nutcases are my boys! Always finding the weird, funny or cool things to talk about, along with the gross, loud or smelly things to discuss.

We have been doing circle time as a family at the dinner table, where Tree Guy Dad will come up with a topic and we each get turns to share our thoughts on the subject. We are learning conversational skills and how to listen. Tonight, Ben came up with his own point to ponder - he wanted us to talk about looking at the bright side of things. I believe that my boys are becoming wonderful men who can see the bright side, unique side, even beautiful side of life. They search for wildflowers to bring me, or interesting rocks. They notice the sunrises and sunsets.

They know I have a poet's heart, and find ways to say things that make me cry.

That my son can look at a letter and see a simile or metaphor growing there - and something so ripe, plump and juicy as a tomato inside a letter Q - fills me with joy!
Liesl Garner has many articles on Wryte Stuff from back in the day when she wrote about Beauty from unusual perspectives. Today, she is a working mom who is starting a ridiculous gardening project. She writes about that at Green Acres-ISH.

She also writes to be writing, because writing is what she does for balance. Those articles can be found at Impulse to Write.

Liesl has been out of touch with the writing community for a little over a year - and looking forward to reconnecting with the fantastic writers here!!

When not working, she chases a husband and 4 boys around, trying to keep up with their art and their antics.
This Article has been viewed 359 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)
» left by Dianne Lehmann 115 days 15 hours ago.
137 fans.
Hi Liesl.

You and Tree Guy Dad are obviously doing an exemplary job of raising your boys. And what a joy it must be to see it all turning out so well! How lucky you are to have such fine kids.

Oh and by the way, I love the way you write about it. :)

Hugs,

Dianne
» left by Liesl Garner 115 days 13 hours ago.
11 fans. Follow Liesl Garner on twitter!
Thank you so much! I love the way you compliment! You make me smile!
» left by Ron Kelley
 108 days 20 hours ago.
8 fans.
--

Liesl,

You say you have a poet's heart. And I would say your words are so, too.

Ron Kelley
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.