Comments on: Sunday Rumpus Essay: Care Package

By: Natalie

Natalie — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 19:40:55 +0000

Thanks to all of you who wrote to let me know your experiences and your feelings about the piece. Means the world to me.
Take good care,
Natalie

By: Linda

Linda — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 21:02:32 +0000

A beautiful piece. I just finished your book and wanted to read more.

By: Debra

Debra — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 08:55:41 +0000

I loved this piece. I have had a similar dialogue and review of events in my head many times when consoling my children when they moved to college and then later when my eldest moved to a city on her own. It’s quite common to receive a call when they are down or experiencing a problem. I have to remind myself that they are living enriched lives, and the phone call of despair/fear/worry that they share with me is just a blip in time. I’m constantly amazed with how much more adventurous they are than I was at their age. I marvel at and celebrate this difference.

By: Isa

Isa — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 07:49:46 +0000

who’s that freak at the bottom of the page?

just kidding.

I love this story. You are too good.
-Isa

By: Natalie

Natalie — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 19:38:03 +0000

Thanks to all for taking time with my work and for your kind and important words in response. I’m gratified that the essay speaks to your experiences and thus we can all feel less alone. And yes, how sweet to have my voice included in this bad-ass magazine!

By: Karin

Karin — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 19:23:43 +0000

This is beautiful. Thank you Natalie for writing it. And also thank you Rumpus for publishing it. It’s profound and refreshing to see a discussion of motherhood (written by a woman over 40, no less) published in this lovely, hip, and all around bad-ass magazine of culture.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 17:56:07 +0000

This is exactly what I am struggling with this summer. My oldest leaves for college this Fall. I am so proud of her for taking the steps I hesitated to make when I finished high school. At the same time I want to shield her from the world and the big, anonymous city she is moving to. I want her to always know and feel like she is a shiny star.
I wish I could pick up the phone and call my 911 at this stage of my growing up. It kinda sucks at the same time that it is everything I ever wanted for her.
Thank you for sharing this and making me feel less alone in this tough transition. The images of your life created by your words are amazing and inspiring.

By: krista

krista — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 05:14:04 +0000

i just realized i was holding my breath through the bulk of this. my four year old daughter is asleep upstairs and to think of the phone call from her, afraid, at eighteen is enough to unravel my small intestine. such a stunningly gorgeous essay. your voice is such a gift.

By: Dawn.

Dawn. — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 04:52:26 +0000

What a lovely, warm essay. Like Sharon said above, I love how you wove your experiences with your mother’s and your daughter’s. Thank you.

By: Joy Drewfs

Joy Drewfs — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 19:27:43 +0000

Natalie, you have so captured the feelings and thoughts of a mother sending her youngest chick out into the world, and far away. I think girls are more attached to their Moms, but I’m speaking from my own experience. Wish I’d had a daughter too. She will remember the care packages and all the care and love you put into them for her and it will help her be stronger. You are a wonderful role model for your daughter and for budding writers like me. Thank you