Saturday Stuff

A Cry for Help

Karen

Lori could feel nearly every muscle, every nerve, tighten painfully. She placed her hands on the washing machine and held on. She watched the water pour into the tub. Her anxiety was nearly palpable.

She could just make out her baby’s shrill cries over the noise of the machine. Two days now she’d listen to her daughter scream so loudly it made her brain vibrate. She couldn’t take much more. She was tired and frustrated.

“If only I had a hammer!” She yelled into the basin. She gasped at the sheer energy of her outburst and immediately felt sick.

It was time to get help.

.

.

.

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Write up to 100 words, fact or fiction….

This is a themed writing meme hosted by Jenny Matlock. The goal is to write something that does not exceed 100 words (not including said prompt). The prompt this week is in bold.

17 thoughts on “A Cry for Help”

  1. OUCH! this rings so true. i suffered PPD before it was “accepted” as a real mental illness, and i had to live through it alone. thank god i never thought of a hammer, but i did think about shaking my baby. my mother saved us both.

    this is a wonderful reminder to all of us to be available and supportive of all the new moms we know. you wrote it so beautifully.

    thanks……….cj

    PS: i DO understand why she suddenly thought of the hammer…..and the (0nly) didn’t bother me at all!

  2. Karen, how carefully you captured that feeling so many of us can recall with a baby that would not stop crying.

    The relentless noise and feeling of failure can make terrible thoughts creep into our minds.

    Anything for a little piece and quiet.

    I admire the strong determination in this little gem of a story.

    Thank you for sharing your talents with us.

  4. Scary, strong story, which is unfortunately not unreal. It is not always easy to take care of young children, and some mothers really do need help. Interesting use of the prompt.

    But I would have prefered a less violent train of thought or a natural connection to the hammer. I know it is hard. We are bound to use the exact content of the prompt. You need to find a more logical connection to the hammer. Or you have to introduce it earlier in your story. Why does she suddenly think of a hammer? What roll has the mashing wachine? hat tells us that she is in another room, and still can hear the baby crying. You are almost there.
    Just a thought.
    Best wishes,
    Anna

    Anna’s SC Week 23

  8. You nailed it, Karen! That is so exactly what PPD is like – and I’m speaking from experience here. It’s scary when you get those thoughts and you KNOW it’s something you’d never do if you were in your right mind. Been there, done that, don’t wish to do it again. (And yes, I DID get help — right away!)

  10. yikes, totally powerful and scary. I do remember the day my daughter cried all day and I finally called my mom to come lend a hand, help is a good thing to ask for

  11. I could remember when my son was an infant he cried a lot. Some days when my husband came home I was crying. Luckily, he would take over then. Powerful and true to life story. Good job.

  13. Very powerful and disturbing, but I believe this is more common than people realize. At least she saw that she needed help. Really well done, very good take on the prompt.

  15. Really captured the desperation of post partum pain…..one more thing we all need to understand!

  17. WOW and WOW! That is a pretty strong and scary story. Unfortunately, not every woman who needs to be on meds gets them. Post partum psychosis is more prevalent that people realize.

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