To the editor:
“Ton p’tit charactère, tué? Ça va changer!” That outburst from my mom meant that I had crossed a line with unacceptable behavior that had to be corrected before I grew one minute older.
Considering myself a good girl, I tried to eliminate all negative traits. I thought that adulthood brings all wisdom. Perish the thought. I sometimes hear parents say of their recalcitrant adult child, “He didn’t leave home like that.” Many of us wonder what happened to make someone so angry, mean, unreasonable, inappropriate and bullyish.
People express their malaise that those governing at the local, county, state or federal levels have become dysfunctional in refusing to work to solve problems, not wanting to be responsible if something goes awry. Stalemates, shut downs and blame games frustrate people to no end. Those who live in such constant childlike fear of the unknown should move on or give the job to someone else.
Pope Benedict has shown us how this is done when he felt he no longer had the energy to do his very demanding work. Bless him. We also have other great role models in our daily lives who step out in faith to serve others conscientiously, respectfully and joyfully.
Mom wouldn’t let me leave the house until I changed my attitude. “Nobody deserves to see that face this morning. I don’t want you to embarrass yourself!” Those words stuck.
Judy Ayotte Paradis
Frenchville
