Hi Bloggers! Do you have to share a story or a short reflection tagged with the letter “C”? For example I’ve written about CHILDHOOD and CHERNOBYL, CATS and CHATS, CIRCLES and CHALLENGES, CRUISESHIPS and CAPTAINS, CELEBRATIONS and CUCKOO CLOCKS, CAPPUCCINO or CAPPADOCCIA, CRUELTY and CHINA, CENSORSHIP and CAMOUFLAGE, CITIES and CUCUMBERS, CHANGES and CONTACTS, CRISTIANITY or CARTOONS, COFFINS and COLORS, COCA COLA and CASTLES, CHARACTER or CONCENTRATION, CONTRASTS and CULTURES, CARNIVAL or CARS, CELIBACY or CURIOSITY, CORMORANTS and COURAGE, CINEMAS or CATHEDRALS, COLOGNE or CALCUTTA, CAFÉS and COMMUNITIES – I’m sure you’ll find an own story or a short reflection tagged with “C”! Feel free to add in the comments the link to your personal interpretation of the letter “C”!!!
CHILDHOOD
photo by just jb / Joan Barrett; title=”A Look of Warning”
– click on the picture to enter her flickr galleries
my “C” story / reflection / short comment tagged with “C”:
Not every childhood is filled with love and happiness. Sometimes it can be a nightmare. Abuse. Absurd corporal punishment rites. Because I had such a childhood, I am interested, if artists create compositions, which can be bridges of understanding and empathy leading into such a dark world…
P.S.
Born 1945 I was immediately given into an orphanage. Adopted three years later I did not enter a paradise. My ex-Nazi father liked to repeat and practice physical punishment rites (every evening 7 p.m.) – similar those he had seen in the concentration camps of the world war II. Additional I usually was locked in the night in the basement where it was dark. Similar locked doors metaphorically I had to discover getting overwhelmed by youth gangs, religious groups, inhuman military discipline etc. – it was a long way into liberty fenced in the post-war Nazi German society. I have to thank for support: my wife Barbara and some friends and teachers. Of course I tried not to hurt my own children in the same way. I tried to change the principles of education radically…
Recently I was surprised, looking at the wikipedia map, in how many countries it is still allowed to beat children. Germany and Spain after all those years of Fascism did learn. Scandinavia seems to be a paradise – but what is happening in many other countries?
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feedbacks at https://flickrcomments.wordpress.com/2011/10/06/black-childhood/:
1 – for example Teresa answered there:
Thank you for being brave enough to write about such a sensitive subject. I’m so sorry that you had to struggle through such a horrific childhood. Just because it’s quick, cheap and deters unruliness in the short run, I do not think that corporal punishment should be used on small children. There are more ethical ways to discipline children: time outs in a designated, safe spot; withholding privileges; praise and rewards for good behavior; etc.). Albeit they take a little more time and effort, but I think they are worth it. According to Wikipedia, “The American Psychological Association opposes the use of corporal punishment in schools, juvenile facilities, child care nurseries, and all other institutions, public or private, where children are cared for or educated. It claims that corporal punishment is violent and unnecessary, may lower self-esteem, and is liable to instill hostility and rage without reducing the undesired behavior. The APA also states that corporal punishment is likely to train children to use physical violence.” Kudos for not using physical violence to discipline your children FrizzText. Congratulations on breaking the cycle of child abuse that could have occurred!
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2 – Myra GB (read in the comments below) replied:
One of the earliest research studies I was privileged enough to be a part of was documenting stories of children survivors of various forms of abuse: physical, sexual, prostituted children, street kids or those engaged in child labor – and many others. I was a fresh psych undergraduate at the time and was working on my PhD program in clinical psych. Nothing prepared me for the horrific stories I heard. Yet despite all that, I was moved by the amazing resilience of the children and how they managed to go past their pain and transcend it. Some don’t, but most do. I am glad that you have gone beyond your own personal pain and are able to see it from another perspective – one that is still filled with questions and anguish, but filled with wisdom as well from the experience.
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the positive version of childhood:
title=”Saturday Morning” – photo by -will wilson- San Francisco
related:
The “C” Archive + The “C” Challenge + Childhood Flashbacks + Chernobyl + Cappadoccia
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Flickr Comments 
i am sorry you had to suffer through this crime of punishment as a child. i am appalled at how some countries still allow this to go on
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hi Terry,
you’ve composed a soothing photo gallery at
my favorites: lightning & lavender!
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Pingback: Photo Journal / Photo Challenge: C is for Cirque de Soleil «
One of the earliest research studies I was privileged enough to be a part of was documenting stories of children survivors of various forms of abuse: physical, sexual, prostituted children, street kids or those engaged in child labor – and many others. I was a fresh psych undergraduate at the time and was working on my PhD program in clinical psych. Nothing prepared me for the horrific stories I heard. Yet despite all that, I was moved by the amazing resilience of the children and how they managed to go past their pain and transcend it. Some don’t, but most do. I am glad that you have gone beyond your own personal pain and are able to see it from another perspective – one that is still filled with questions and anguish, but filled with wisdom as well from the experience. Thank you for sharing with us your childhood story, Frizz.
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thank you, Myra, for your elaborated reply! I’m for example glad to hear,
that you were
“…moved by the amazing resilience of the children
and how they managed to go past their pain
and transcend it.
Some don’t, but most do…”
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Here is our C contribution – quite lighthearted. Cirque de Soleil: http://gatheringbooks.wordpress.com/2012/07/17/photo-journal-photo-challenge-c-is-for-cirque-de-soleil/
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hello Myra,
thank you for your kind comment on childhood and resilience
– and the BEATLES quotation:
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“There’s nothing you can do
that can’t be done.
Nothing you can sing
that can’t be sung.
Nothing you can say
but you can learn how to play
the game. It’s easy.”
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people want to encourage and not discourage children
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your stories and photos help to encourage!
I like your smile to the friendly horse (I often watched my daughters on horse backs)
– and I like the “French Quarter cafe serving hot cafe au lait and cool jazz in New Orleans, Louisiana.” Thanks for your Bluegrass link!
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Pingback: Story Challenge: Letter “C” « Flickr Comments by FrizzText | A-Z ARCHIVE : NELLIBELL49 ON THE BELLINGER RIVER IN 2012
Here is my story for letter C http://scrapydo.wordpress.com/2012/07/17/story-challenge-the-letter-c/
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hi Ineke,
thank you for your heart touching life fragment
“Before I left home after living 4 years with my parents,
my parents asked me to come into their bedroom and sit on the bed.
They both told me they are giving me this precious
CAMEO which belonged to my grandmother
…I was really speechless when they gave it to me…”
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Such a difficult post to have written. You survived, and that speaks volumes about your resiliency. Your wife sounds like a wonderful woman to have helped you through this.
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Here is my submission for C: http://canoecommunications.wordpress.com/2012/07/16/c-is-going-country/
Going country with bluegrass music.
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thank you for joining my c-challenge
with country music – I thought you would choose creedance clearwater or cranberry canoe!
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Dear frizz what a brave post. I am sorry you had such a bad time, somehow through it all you have turned into a wonderful human being that brings joy to so many.
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dear Gilly,
maybe it would make me even stronger, if I could use your solid bathtube at
http://lucidgypsy.wordpress.com/2012/07/15/the-sunday-post-solid/
if I use it through nine times, at the right time of the Lunar cycle…
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Hahaha Frizz I think I described it badly! It isn’t just a pit, its a hole going all the way through! and if you go when the river is in full spate it would be very dangerous!
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I’m really moved and sorry to hear about your traumatic childhood. I’ve known a few who also had an unpleasant childhood(though not as bad as yours) and have come out it quite successfuly (but we who know them well can see the scars deep below) .
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What a traumatic childhood you had–my heart goes out to you. I am glad you survived it, and found supportive people in your life. I have never raised a hand to my children. A parent who hits or spanks a child is teaching that child it’s okay to use violence against if you are bigger and stronger, or if you tell them it’s for their own good. But it is never okay to hurt a child, and patience, kindness, setting a good example is the way to show children right from wrong. The word “discipline” is from the same root word as disciple, and it means “to teach.” But it has come to mean punishment as well, which is very, very sad. But I’m guessing that you were merely an outlet for your adopted father’s anger.
Here is a post from the archives about a very nasty teacher I had–the only time I was ever been publicly punished in school.
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hi Naomi,
thank you for:
“let no one break your spirit!”
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Here’s what I wrote about strange cabbages in Portugal: http://juliedawnfox.com/2012/01/14/c-is-for-cabbages/
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gracias for the cabbage reality check:
“looks like grass floating in wallpaper paste…”
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It tastes better than it looks 🙂
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A sobbing, painful… story, it takes courage to tell the story.
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hi Amy,
congrats, that you’ve been able to endure some of those climbing challenges!
http://shareandconnect.wordpress.com/2012/07/17/story-challenge-letter-c/
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Interesting image above that leaves it to the imagination about the trip. My try at C: http://bellechance.wordpress.com/2012/07/17/c-is-for-carved/
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a crocodile that cannot bite – O.K.!
http://bellechance.wordpress.com/2012/07/17/c-is-for-carved/
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Pingback: “C” is for Children and Coffe | a hectic life
Childhood is best. The others are “cocomino”, “car”, “Coca cola” and “ica-Cold drink.”
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my coco was:
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My entry … thank you
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at least I helped thousands of children to learn how to swim and dive …
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Pingback: C! Challenge: Cannon « beyondpaisley
Here’s my C-challenge this week. Though in reading my fellow posters’ challenges, I’ve realized a few other things I could have posted. Ah, well…26 weeks from now…. 🙂 Anyway. Here’s my challenge, about the tiniest and most adorable working cannon I’ve ever seen. http://beyondpaisley.net/2012/07/17/c-challenge-cannon/
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thanks for Canadian cruiseships, Coca Cola cocktails & cannons!
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Pingback: C is for Carved « Belle Chance
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Pingback: STORY CHALLENGE: LETTER “C” « Francine In Retirement
I find your your early childhood very unfortunate and sad and I am glad to see you have become a better and successful man with very creative talents. Your story brought back a memory for me, although not anything like yours, but just a forgotten one. Here is my Story Challenge: Letter “C” – City Chickens & A Corn Field. http://wp.me/p23TG1-11I
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
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in my childhood I had some chickens to sooth my soul – and I helped them: stole cheese to feed them; they loved me …
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Frizz, the man you are today (so talented, intuitive, loving, supportive, wise–and,and,and (I could go on forever1) just goes to show that an awful childhood does NOT doom a person to have an awful life! Bless you for your openness here today!
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hi granbee / Rose,
thank you for:
~
“an awful childhood
does NOT doom a person
to have an awful life!”
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Claws
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a high five by my kitty Emily with her right claw!
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Pingback: Story Challenge: Letter “C” « Rois
I am so sorry you had such a traumathic childhood. Hugs from me.
Mine – http://jullianeford.wordpress.com/2012/07/18/story-challenge-letter-c/
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thanks for your C vs. D poll!
60% dog persons – 40% cat persons (like me)
my cat is disturbed! meow!!!
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Morning frizztext. For the C section of my Bellingen Valley A-Z, I have chosen CAFES. We are in a verdant valley, mostly rural but we surely do have cafes. http://abcnellibell49.wordpress.com/2012/07/17/cc-is-for-cafes/
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better to go into a café than in a cinema (with a batman movie)
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#theatershooting #Batman #Denver
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/334143/Gunman-kills-14-people-and-injures-50-at-Dark-Knight-Rises-movie-showing-in-Denver
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a terrible thing
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Such a tragic childhood. Your survival story is admirable!
Here is my entry:
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thank you for your political statement:
“how tragic to spend all day in confrontation. It would be nice if there could be more sharing, and less greed and fighting…by all species…”
frizz: actually: in Syria
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It’s sad to think that this still happens, as we in the States are seeing in the Penn State trial recently.
Here’s my story – how our cats gave up their house rule to our son:
http://www.sofacents.com/whos-in-charge-here/
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I enjoyed to read every single word of your charming story about cat behaviour; not only because we have a cat – and three grandsons: I adore your empathy – how you understand that the boss cat wants to have the seat on the top level of the cat post – and that your baby on the other hand likes to reach the ceiling! a very amusing fragment of your family live – with a perfect photo document!
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Hello FrizzText and all you fellow A-Z Challengers! Here’s my take on this week’s C Challenge: http://stephenkellycreative.wordpress.com/2012/07/18/a-z-challenge-the-letter-c-coit-tower/
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thanks for the Coit Tower looking over China Town by night …
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Pingback: story challenge: letter c! (cathy) « a nomad in the land of nizwa
Hi Frizz, that is such a sad and horrible story about your childhood. I can’t imagine how horrible it must have been for you. I’m so sorry. But yet. Look at you now. You are a great person and a great photographer and writer, so maybe the hardship made you a strong and interesting person. Thanks to all the support you get from your wife and family. Somehow, the universe takes care of us if only we will let it. Thanks for sharing.
Mine is a very ridiculous post this time: http://catbirdinoman.wordpress.com/2012/07/17/story-challenge-letter-c-cathy-2/
Not nearly so revealing and open as yours.
Thanks again for an interesting challenge. ~ Cathy
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hi Cathy,
you wrote: “Catherine the Great, Katherine Hepburn, Katherine Heigl, Catherine Deneuve, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Catherine de Medici (royalty!). Just look at all the famous Catherines!! But when I look up the “famous” Cathys, I don’t recognize a single one…”
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my first thought was “Cathy’s Clown” by the Everly Brothers!
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Childhood shadows are indeed long, informing our every step into the wider world. The man who kicks his own is a man to be feared by all. That your past has evolved from such darkness to where you are now is testament to the inherent goodness in you.
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thank you Patti – and your engagemnet helps me to believe that freedom of speech will be possible – though I often had so much oppression vs. my longing for to discuss everything – not only by my parents …
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Wonderfu, Frizztextl! I like the theme “childhood”: “it’s our upper room!
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Here is a “C” post from my archives. 🙂 http://mywordwall.wordpress.com/2012/04/20/130/
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hi Imelda,
CHOCOLATES: a very tasty choice for the “C” challenge!
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Pingback: FAVORITE(ST) CHOCOLATES EVER! « mywordwall
Here is my take on this week’s theme. Charlie the Cat
http://ceeslifephotographyblog.wordpress.com/2012/07/19/frizztexts-story-challenge-letter-c/
ENJOY!!!
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“He had been up for adoption for over six months
and lived in a small cage during most of that time…”
frizz the cat:
thank you, Cee, for saving my brother Charlie!
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A little late..Here’s my entry..
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Cooking Chocolate Mousse is the most tasty C-Challenge!
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CONTROL
by le drake noir:
= “Many things that were previously allowed are now forbidden…”
frizz-comment: – it soothes me, that this is not only in my country but in Denmark too. Only the insects do not care …
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Childhood is perfect for “C”, likes your post… 😉
My “C”… 😉
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CONTROL = “Many things that were previously allowed are now forbidden…”
– it soothes me, that this is not only in my country but in Denmark too.
Only the insects do not care …
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I am so sorry you had a sad childhood Frizz, but like I said before, I am glad it had a happy ending. Take care. Will submit my entry soon.
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CENTUM:
http://theurgetowander.com/2012/07/19/c-is-for-centum/
“And here I am. Six months, 36,243 views and a 100 posts later!…”
congratulations – and keep on blogging, Madhu!
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Thanks Frizz! Here is my entry: http://theurgetowander.com/2012/07/23/the-city-i-call-home/?preview=true&preview_id=5041&preview_nonce=2f77b7d89f
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you’ve written a great tribute to Chennai!
My daughter (an architect) has been there …
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Pingback: The City I Call Home « The Urge To Wander
I always find it at odds with my thoughts when I click ‘like’ on posts such as this – A very sad subject told with the benefit of experience. In the Uk it’s illegal to beat children although the law has been clarified to allow parents to ‘smack’ children. Locking a child in a cellar at night would definitely bring down the full weight of the law and the social services upon the parent if they became aware of such abuse.
My C response tackles no important subjects, just another look into the weird world of Amateur Radio…
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hi Martin in U.K.,
oh, once I built those little morse and radio machines …
– thanks for your bridge to my memories –
P.S.:
and thanks for your interesting comment about
“Locking a child in a cellar at night…”
– my daily childhood experience for many years …
in the next morning they used to laugh about me
because my face was black by the coals I had to sleep in;
sometimes I screamed very loud;
the neighbours started to make some trouble;
so the man who adopted me did not stop his behaviour vs. me
– I was only a child from an orphanage –
he put me in the cellar of a bureau-house, empty at night, with steel doors;
kind of comfortable, because there was a heating
no more cold nights at least …
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after years the neighbors told my fate to the police;
then the couple who adopted me left the town
and rented an apartement in a little town 100 miles away.
I was aged ten now; they stopped to put me in the basement at night,
but continued to beat me till I was twenty;
I never managed to stop this;
when I earned my first own money (aged 24)
I left them (without a word) and never came back …
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always when I have a flashback to my childhood and this man,
a song in my heart tries to soothe my soul:
JOSH WHITE, singing the old gospel:
THERE’s a man man, going round,
taking names
(and he took my name. My name was Klingbeil and he made me to Fritze)
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