I am from pastel and oil, acrylic and watercolor, pencil and ink, wood and ruler, hammer and nail, chisel, chainsaw, miter, drill, screw.
I am from Mr. Rogers and Bob Marley, Uncle Wiggly and The Rainbow Goblins, The Monkey King and Thumbelina.
I am from a marriage and a divorce, love and its opposite, the familiar clang of the world at its end and at its beginning, splitting apart and then reformed, broken and whole, the consistency of two people working out their distances across town and across a river and across a home and across a little girl.
Fascinated? Visit the Essays on Childhood website to read the entire piece of writing and to connect with writer Valley Haggard, the founder of Richmond Young Writers!
Many thanks go out to Valley for her generous permission to share her writing on Esse Diem and Essays on Childhood.
Esse Diem 
I realize after reading this poetry that the rough draft, which is getting smoother, I sent you is pedestrian in comparison.
Hey now, we’ll have none of that!
I posted this as a learning tool about “creative nonfiction.” I thought it was an inspiring look at an unexpected way to go about the process of writing “where you’re from.” Valley Haggard is a professional writer, and even if she weren’t, to me going about developing one’s writing is never about comparison.
That is why I love the writing community — sure, there are some narcissistic jerks out there as there are in every field, but in general most writers just want to learn from each other and to advance and grow a love for the craft.
If this piece inspires you to consider new forms of expression, that is good. If it creates anxiety, look away! Your essay is very, very wonderful and 100% authentic YOU. 🙂