What I Want You to Know is a series of reader submissions.  It is an attempt to allow people to tell their personal stories, in the hopes of bringing greater compassion to the unique issues each of us face. If you would like to submit a story to this series, click here.  Today’s post is by an anonymous reader.   I was abused and neglected as a child. My mother and father were both alcoholics and drug addicts. My father was also very abusive to my mother. We grew up being scared every night from . . .

I had to cut off Kembe’s hair today.  I did not want to do it.  At all.  And I am stupid sad about the whole thing. I am similar feelings when I cut of Jafta’s locks.  I also had a little crisis when I cut India’s hair.  I’m just sentimental about hair for some reason.  Over the years, I’ve seen all of the little boys from Kembe’s orphanage have their hair cut shorter, but I really wanted to keep Kembe’s hair long.  It’s just how I have always known him – he’s had a lot of hair since he was born . . .

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So, we started a garden today. It was a bit of an impulse move.  We have a neighbor who has basically turned his front yard into a vegetable garden.  The kids walk by it every day and just revel in the whole thing.  They love picking strawberries and peas and carrots.  Every day they are in awe of what is going on in Jason’s garden.  Last night, Jason sent us home with a bunch of potatoes which were somehow the most magical and delicious potatoes I have ever eaten, and Mark decided that it must . . .