I like it. Tell me how I can help out with this.
Keep your eyes out for quotes, photos, and facts that are likely to trigger emotional reactions, and please send them to me or otherwise make me aware of them.
Inane, unbelievable, or outrageous comments and behaviors from involved parties are particularly good ammunition. I'm finding lots of these myself.
Maybe you could also help with proofreading and reviewing. Much appreciated.
As you might be aware, I'm writing a story with embedded teaching regarding how to discipline children gently and effectively.
I figure that this solves two problems at the same time: less out-of-control behavior, and also less child abuse and less negative feelings about children.
I don't think Caylee's behavior was the trigger point, but rather, Casey's resentment of having to give her attention when she wanted to devote her attentions elsewhere. There was also the problem that Caylee was not welcome in the crowd that Casey wanted to hang out with.
But that's one of the very issues I highlighted in the book! In fact I'm all over it, and the first few pages are a comparable shock situation. Nobody killed, but dirty little secrets people hide behind a façade of social respectability, or in other words "what people do when they think nobody's looking", or in other words what the English call "public virtue private vice".
Except the nanny cams and security cams keep picking it up.
It also covers the bratty behavior that has become ubiquitous--but that's just the other side of the same coin: neglect.
When I was 19 years old, I went to go visit my father and stepmother. One night they took me out to see a play. We went to pick up some friends of my stepmother's. I'm dying to tell you what their names are because it's just so stereotypical, but to avoid the possibility of trouble let's just call them "Muff" and "Biff" (their real names are even worse, SNARK). They're executive-level bankers and "blue-bloods".
The older of their offspring was no more than 5. Another, around 3 or 4, was sick with a fever.
They sent them to bed, and we left. No baby-sitter.
Not that I would leave a sick kid with a hired babysitter, and certainly not for a night of theatre or any other unimportant matter!!!!
I was shocked. I didn't want to rock the boat, and it would not have helped, as I was too low-status. But I was greatly troubled. Even somewhat guilty for just having been involved to the extend I was.
These kids tended not to turn out well. Very self-centered, hedonistic, and narcissistic. (Like Casey Anthony).
Funny how so many unpleasant experiences of my dysfunctional youth are turning into useful ammunition in my older years.
At this point in my life, I think that happiness is largely a matter of being able to find joy and beauty digging potatoes--or whatever else it is that I'm doing to live. To find satisfaction in doing whatever sustains life. I dig until my hands are bleeding and covered with blisters, and then keep digging, the sun in my face and a song in my heart. And ethics is obtaining what you want only by your own productivity, or trading the value of your best for the value of others' best, and both coming out better for the deal. Never by unprovoked violence or deception.
