Write about the moment a child (of any age) first comes to view a parent as a three-dimensional human being, and not just a parental figure.

Posted in Teens on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 23 stories

“Letters to a Special Someone.” by Cam Croz

Submitted to Contest #11

My Dearest, I know that you might not know who I am, but you should know how much you mean to me. I was too scared to confess my feelings to you when I saw you last, but that’s alright because I can just do it here, in the safety of my own room. In the warmth of my own bed. I just want you to know that I admire you and everything you stand for. And that I love you. The girl sighed as she finished her letter. Her letter for the kindest most caring boy in her school. She had fallen head over heels for him the first time she’d seen ...

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“The Day the Music Died” by Megan Rosevear

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #11

I’ve played the cello since I was seven years old. The throaty bass wafted through the house from four to six o’clock every night, filtering through the vents and settling everyone into a monotonous routine after a hectic day. Cello Suite No. 1 was my grandma’s favorite, and bless her heart she’d traverse all the way downstairs just to sit with me while I played it. “It’s not happy or sad,” she would say. “It’s exciting.” I had to agree. I always found beauty in the way such a somber sounding instrument could make my ...

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“Have You Seen Me, Elijah Blue” by K Arlington Andrews

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #11

Momma took the hot water from the stove and poured it into the tub. My naked backside got splashed, and I tried to shield myself from Momma’s bad aim and evil eye. “Ouch…That’s too hot.” “Boy hush!” she said. &nb...

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“Mother” by Gayatri Varma

Submitted to Contest #11

I was fifteen. It was a perfect summer day, for it rained, the first shower of the summer. Every time it rained I remember wrapping myself in the blanket with a favourite book of mine, back then Austen I believe was my favourite author. Nothing much changed since then except for the fact that I no longer read Austen and has gained a few weight. Those were the sane days. There were a lot of things lying ahead waiting to unbox or so that’s what I presumed. Ela had bought me some books to read this summer, I haven’t even opened her well-p...

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“Mother and Me” by Lily Kingston

Submitted to Contest #11

“And this year my little Monique will place first in her class.” Mother rubbed my shoulders as she continued to brag about me to her friends. “Yup! She got it all from me! The brains… the beauty…” She pinched my cheek. “She’s just like I was at her age.” “Well, my Rebecca is a just a peach! That’s what all her teachers say!” Mary Kate boasted. “All the teachers, or just the one she slept with?” I teased. While Mother gave me a silent kick to the shin, I kept my eyes peeled for a chance to flee. The dress she had forced me to wear at this coc...

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“Parent's Day” by Debra Caples

Submitted to Contest #11

“I’m an ol’ s.o.b. because it’s a big, bad world. One day you’re going to know just how tough so you better get some of it, too.” But I never did. The world knocked me around like a feather. I didn’t have Daddy’s boot leather attitude about life and certainly would never fill his shoes. Not that I wanted to. His opinion was the only one that mattered. I wasn’t allowed to think for myself much less “do my own thing” as we said in the sixties. We were expected to sit up straight, graduate from high school (as he had not), act like Christian s...

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“How To Plant A Human Bean” by Harminia Escarmiet

Submitted to Contest #11

How To Plant A Human Bean“How do you plant human beans?” I asked my father. He had a strange look on his face, as if I spoke in humour. “I’m not kidding, father.” I responded to the grin beginning to form across his mouth. Why does he think of me comically? Often he comments about me being ‘inconveniently’ clever, I don’t even know the word, but I like to pretend I do. He sat there in the garden stool, trimming the leafy things. Twice he glanced at me, as if to see if I was insistent enough to remain standing, a vegetable I plucked limp in m...

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“Loving Father” by Dylan Roth

Submitted to Contest #11

The heat was oppressive. It pushed in from all sides, making his skin slick with sweat. He cracked the door open to let in some air. With the cool breeze came the cicadas’ chainsaw orchestra. Each wisp of fresh air brought a moment of refreshing peace from the heat. He’d been parked in the car for twenty minutes. Every moment, he told himself now was the time to get out and go over there. Every moment, he didn’t.But now that the door was open and the sound of the world was filling his head again, he couldn’t ignore it any longer. He got out,...

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“Life of a Hypochondriac” by Raegan Burkett

Submitted to Contest #11

I wasn't allowed to play outside, and I hated my mother for it. I watched my friends from school ride their bikes past my house and begged her to let me join them, arguing for nearly an hour over the matter."You'll fall off your bike without me there to hold the back of your seat."I promised to wear all of the knee and elbow pads and the giant helmet that was a little too big for me, even if it was sure to earn some teasing insults from my friends."You're allergic to the grass. I don't want you to get a rash,"I promised her I would not set f...

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“The Heart-Shaped Frame” by Makereta Brown

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #11

I wasn't sure how Gerda might react after all this time, but I needn't have worried. She peered out from the door-frame with that frail hesitation that age and declining eyesight create in older folk. Then she uttered a little cry and threw her arms around me. Gerda was slightly stopped now and her frame carried the brittleness of advancing years. Still, her hug was surprisingly strong and I returned it with the sudden relief of a child returned home. When she finally stood back, she told me how tall and glamorous I'd become. And then ...

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“Final Diagnosis” by Linda Logdberg

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #11

Final diagnosis Grosse Pointe, Michigan, had long been famous as an enclave for the rich, but even fancy mansions look rundown when they front on streets lined with dirty snow. Roads were nowhere near as manicured in the 1990s as they are now, anyway, so I didn’t think twice about the slush as I parked my mother’s old Ford Fairlane next to a huge snowdrift in front of the turreted stone house I’d come to visit. I hoped it was the right place. Because of my errand, the house and its vast gray lawn reminded me of someone’s...

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“From a Daughter to her Mother” by Sophie Heather

Submitted to Contest #11

Rhonda, age 62 from Sydney, passed away on Saturday, December 15th, 2002. She was born to the late Catherine and Andrew Collins on January 15, 1940.Rhonda lived a simple life at first. She lived at home with her parents and their dog Bow. She attended Caroline Public school, where she became the school captain in her final year. The reason: most likely her secret candy business, were she was selling the candy that her mother would get her and sell it for a dollar to all of the kids who were willing to pay for it, and trust me, so many d...

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“Whistle Band” by Maddi Roy

Submitted to Contest #11

How much fun could you possibly have in a run-down residential neighborhood in Lewiston, Maine? That’s the question my childhood friends and I tested ourselves with every day during the summers. The answer is more than you’d think. As soon as our mom left for work, my brother and I would hurry over to knock on the door of the white and green house across the street. One of five children would appear behind the screen door: Amil, Angelina, Victor, Anthony, or Star. That was everyone’s cue to spill out onto the street and begin another day of ...

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“First Funeral” by Pam Groff

Submitted to Contest #11

Mommy told me what a funeral was, but I don’t think that I get it. She told me that Grandpa is taking a really long sleep and we need to say our goodbyes to him. If that’s true, then why are having a whole day for him? And why is everyone so sad if he’s sleeping? I sleep a lot too; I’ve never seen anybody cry about it though. And I’ve definitely never had anyone say goodbye to me first. Grandma is especially upset. She’s got black streaks all down her face and she keeps hugging me for some reason, telling me that it’ll all be okay. Why would...

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“Doctors Orders” by Jarod Cannon

Submitted to Contest #11

Doctors Orders There are two important details to mention before we get to the real meat of this story. The first, and probably more important of the two, is that my dad is a doctor. It's been that way since I was first born, and it honestly wouldn't be surprised to learn that he delivered me himself. I couldn't tell you exactly what his title is due to the fact that every different type of doctor has a different and more confusing name than the last. All I knew for most of my life is that when he went to work, it was his job to "fix people'...

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Write about the moment a child (of any age) first comes to view a parent as a three-dimensional human being, and not just a parental figure.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 23 stories

“Letters to a Special Someone.” by Cam Croz

“The Day the Music Died” by Megan Rosevear

“Have You Seen Me, Elijah Blue” by K Arlington Andrews

“Mother” by Gayatri Varma

“Mother and Me” by Lily Kingston

“Parent's Day” by Debra Caples

“How To Plant A Human Bean” by Harminia Escarmiet

“Loving Father” by Dylan Roth

“Life of a Hypochondriac” by Raegan Burkett

“The Heart-Shaped Frame” by Makereta Brown

“Final Diagnosis” by Linda Logdberg

“From a Daughter to her Mother” by Sophie Heather

“Whistle Band” by Maddi Roy

“First Funeral” by Pam Groff

“Doctors Orders” by Jarod Cannon

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about how a person’s perspective on an event from their childhood shifted in their adulthood.

Write about someone who returns as an adult to a place they last visited as a child.

Write about an adult event or gathering from the point of view of a child.

Write about a parent who sees pieces of a family member’s (or their own) personality in their child — whether that brings them comfort, terror, or something in between.

Contest #11

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

172

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: