58 Comments
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Michelle Ward's avatar

The metaphor about mistakes made in the game, their impacts and the final statement of “what’s played is played” - this hit me 🥹

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Jennie Young's avatar

It's so crushing, right? The fact that every decision made as a mother feels so weighted and high stakes. I blame western capitalistic parenting, lol (which I am both victim of and contributor to, I am sure).

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Kim Littleton's avatar

Me too!

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Colleen Smith's avatar

Beautifully poignant, especially to another mom who just sent her youngest off to college. The imagery of the bowl of Teddy Grahams and the Batman cape really choked me up. Thank you for sharing. 🧡

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Jennie Young's avatar

Oh man, sending you so much love! It can be so hard 🥹❤️

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Paula Darling's avatar

I hadn't planned on crying this early on a Sunday morning, but here we are!

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Jennie Young's avatar

Aww, I'm sorry 🥹 I hope they were good(ish) tears! ❤️

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Paula Darling's avatar

Your beautiful writing brought me back to the days I dropped my kids off at college. I'm so proud of them now, but letting go was rough!

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Susan Lambiase's avatar

Amazing. So evocative. My twins’ time was split half with their dad - we played so much scrabble in their time w me, and my 25 year-old son is so much better at it than me now. As soon as he comes home (to visit), he takes out the family scrabble board - the one I played on as a kid.

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Amy R.'s avatar

I’m not a mom. I don’t play Scrabble. But this piece grabbed me so hard that I literally read the entire thing twice. ❤️

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Jennie Young's avatar

This is actually the most lovely compliment you could share with me. Thank you, Amy 🥹❤️

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Justine Reed's avatar

Love this piece, and feel the echo of raising my own kid half time .. both the joys of watching him find his grit and the heartbreak of feeling him pull away (as he should). Beautifully written ❤️🙏

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Jennie Young's avatar

Aww, thank you . . . sending you all good vibes ((❤️))

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Melodie Asdell's avatar

Extraordinary piece. Rich nuggets crafted so beautifully. Bravo!

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Ann Kelly's avatar

Touching.

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Lisa's avatar

This is so beautiful; it really gave me the feels 💕 My son just graduated this year as well, although not heading off to college, I couldn't help but picture the two of us as I was reading this. So tough being a single mom, but so worth it as well 💜

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Julia E's avatar

I adore this. Sending you strength for the next chapter from another single momma of a gritty new adult who has been beating me at scrabble for years now.

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Radmila Avramovic's avatar

That is beautiful. Read that after speaking to my son who lives on the other side of the world. 12 hours behind. My morning is his evening vice versa. I love that you were able to articulate your feelings in this way.

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Jennie Young's avatar

I feel you. Mine now lives in the UK. 🥹

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Ivy's avatar

Beautifully written and touching

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Katie B's avatar

I love this piece so much, thank you for sharing!

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kathleen callaghan's avatar

Poignantly beautiful ❤️

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AMC's avatar

Oh so beautiful and painful all at once❤️

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Lara Starr's avatar

Oh Jennie. I'm the single mother of an only son and I sooo get this.

I see mirrors of my relationship with my son in yours with yours. He has a quick, dry wit. We connect over oddball things.

He's such a Libra he makes me believe in astrology. Balanced, level-headed. He launched early and well.

What a gift you and your son are to each other.

Thank you for sharing him with us.

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