Category Archives: Family

Gaslight — the experience

October 20, 2020Columns, Family, funsusanmanzke

I’m having fun going over old columns. This particular one was fun to write.

Back in the day, I didn’t have to worry what my next column would be about. Our children and/or Bob would do something crazy during the week that turned into a column.

Here’s a fun one depicting family life on Sunnybook Farm.

I’m so happy I was able to save and share our stories.

All families have stories like this one. Our family wasn’t (isn’t) special. The only thing different was that I wrote about our adventures….and still do.

I encourage you to jot down a memory today. It doesn’t have to be long or perfect. Even a short memory will be a gift to your family.

Six-year-old had a meltdown

October 19, 2020Columns, Familysusanmanzke

The six-year-old in this column is my youngest daughter, Rachel. Her bad mood this day was never understood. She must have got up on the wrong side of the bed which would have hurt as the bed was against the wall.

As a youngster, Rachel was fun company, but this particular day wasn’t her best.

Maybe this was a forerunner for Rachel’s teen years. Those were a test for us all.

Lucky for everyone, Rachel survived the teens and is a wonderful adult and great company.

A gathering of geese

October 16, 2020Family, fun, wildlifesusanmanzke

Just stand outside for a time and you’re bound to hear and maybe see geese flying south. Seeing these migrating birds isn’t anything unusual, still people stop and stare at the flying flocks.

Many times in fall and again in spring, we visited the Green Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. This is a spot many Canada geese stop over for a rest and meal.

This column is about taking our young family to feed the geese. Our visit was fun, but of course also eventful.

I hope you enjoy this column from the 80s.

Maybe, to get out of the house, you’ll take a trip to the Wildlife Sanctuary, or another wildlife stopover.

Just take care if you do and watch your footing.

A Terrible-two toddler

October 12, 2020Family, funsusanmanzke

In 1981 our third child turned into a terrible-two. This quick change always comes as a surprise to parents.

Lucky for us, Russell did finally exit the terrible phase only have the next child, Rachel, take over this age of madness.

The tooth fairy is fallible

October 8, 2020Family, funsusanmanzke

Over many years, the tooth fairy came to our house. Sometimes she was on time. Sometimes she was on vacation and arrived days later–once it was multiple missed days for which she sent her apologies.

This audio reading was from 1981 and it was the tooth fairy’s first chance to make a payout for our firstborn. Still, she muffed it and to this day she is sad for disappointing little Robby.

These days the tooth fairy has issues too. Good thing she eventually catches on to her slip-ups and, even if late, pays up for the teeth.

If I hear correctly, instead of a dime or quarter, the tooth fairy has inflated her pay for teeth. I guess teeth are worth more these days.

Susan Manzke

Writer, Speaker, All-Around Good Person