Growing up in the fifties and sixties, I can only remember knowing one child, ever, whose parents got a divorce, and hardly any whose mother "worked" at anything besides raising her children. Joyce Maynard More Quotes by Joyce Maynard More Quotes From Joyce Maynard She felt everything too deeply, it was like the world was too much for her. Joyce Maynard felt too-much world It's not only children who grow. Parents do too. As much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives, they are watching us to see what we do with ours. I can't tell my children to reach for the sun. All I can do is reach for it, myself. Joyce Maynard family mother children A person who deserves my loyalty receives it. Joyce Maynard loyalty deserve persons It's sad but true that if you focus your attention on housework and meal preparation and diapers, raising children does start to look like drudgery pretty quickly. On the other hand, if you see yourself as nothing less than your child's nurturer, role model, teacher, spiritual guide, and mentor, your days take on a very different cast. Joyce Maynard spiritual teacher children The word NO, carries a lot more meaning when spoken by a parent who also knows how to say yes. Joyce Maynard know-how parent knows To share our stories is not only a worthwhile endeavor for the storyteller, but for those who hear our stories and feel less alone because of it. Joyce Maynard worthwhile share stories It's not only children who grow. Parents do too. Joyce Maynard single-child parenting children Before I had children I always wondered whether their births would be, for me, like the ultimate in gym class failures. And I discovered instead... that I'd finally found my sport. Joyce Maynard class sports children A good home must be made, not bought. In the end, it's not track lighting or a sun room that brings light into a kitchen. Joyce Maynard track light home The portrait of my parents is a complicated one, but lovingly drawn. Joyce Maynard portraits parent complicated When I was 12 years old, I read Nancy Drew mysteries and biographies of Madame Curie and Florence Nightingale and books about girls who love horses or go to nursing school. I belonged to the Girl Scouts and got A's in school and rarely disobeyed my parents. I still kept a collection of Barbie dolls in my room, and I almost never spoke to boys. Joyce Maynard horse girl book One of the sad realities of being a parent is that the same stuff you know is exciting, educational, and enriching in your child'slife is often messy, smelly and exhausting to deal with. Joyce Maynard educational children reality Nothing like being visible, publishing one's work, and speaking openly about one's life, to disabuse the world of the illusion of one's perfection and purity. Joyce Maynard illusion perfection world If a man wishes to truly not be written about, he would do well not to write letters to 18-year-old girls, inviting them into his life. Joyce Maynard girl writing men It troubles me that people speak about writing for money as ugly and distasteful. Joyce Maynard ugly writing people Wherever it is you make your home, there is always this other place, this other person, calling to you. Come to me. Come back. Joyce Maynard persons calling home I have long observed that the act of writing is viewed, by some, as an elite and otherworldly act, all the more so if a person isn't paid for what she writes. Joyce Maynard persons writing long The silence was part of the story I wanted to tell. Joyce Maynard silence stories wanted [On home births:] In a house where there had been three people, there were now four, although no one had come in the door. Joyce Maynard home doors people I do not outline. There are writers I know and count as my friends who certainly do it the other way but for me part of the adventure is not knowing how it's going to turn out. Joyce Maynard knowing adventure way
