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Getting some relief from Snow White and accupuncture

By Debra Cole

It’s Thursday evening and my daughter wants to watch Snow White for the 17^th time. I do what she wants and cuddle with her on the couch. I look at the screen and wonder, why do all the evil witches in Disney movies look like drag queens? Someone at Disney must have been a cross dresser. I try to enjoy the time but my back is hurting. The next morning, the pain is more intense. I feel like the old woman who poisons Snow White with the apple. She’s the one with warts on her nose and osteoporosis.  Ugh! This is worse than labor! I struggle to get out of bed and conclude I should have had a baby in my 20s. Forget emotional maturity, this kid is killing me.

Days before, a friend had suggested acupuncture.  To my surprise much relief came immediately upon the first visit.  But the doc warned me it wasn’t over and I needed to come back.  I get Julia dressed and ready for her mother’s morning out program. I groan as I put her in the car seat that is so littered with bits of toddler snacks, I’m afraid it will sprout like a Chia Pet if it doesn’t get cleaned soon. There’s just too much to do!  I drop off my daughter and head to the doc’s office. I am hurting and ready to give that Chinaman a piece of my mind.

Photo: Debra Cole

He tells me to calm down and gets out the needles. He says there’s nothing really wrong with my back. It’s just sore because I overreact to everything. He tells me I can’t function in fight or flight mode anymore. That’s easy for him to say. I’m self-employed and divorced. And I’m co-parenting a toddler with a man who is “difficult” on his best day. (more…)

By Chris Ingram

The Tampa Tribune

Published Saturday, December 25, 2012

The last few weeks, my oldest daughter Casey, who is 8, has been asking about the legitimacy of Santa Clause. She pleas for the truth, as my wife, Amy, and I look into her eyes muttering lame statements such as, “If you don’t believe, you won’t receive.”

Photo: Casey back when she believed in the Easter bunny.

The other night she told Amy, “Mom, I really need to know. I’m not a kid anymore; you can’t believe in fairy tales forever.” Last I checked, 8 years-old is still a kid. Besides, the magic of Santa and believing in something fun doesn’t have to have expiration date.

Of course believing in Santa is not the same as having religious faith. For Casey, she is a firm believer in Jesus. And she is quick to note she believes, even though she’s never seen Him at the mall.

Casey said she knows Santa isn’t real, “[Because] Dad keeps getting confused as to the presents you guys bought me and what presents Santa brought me.”

What can I say? I’ve got a bad memory.

Casey also boldly told us the tooth fairy and the Easter bunny aren’t for real. When we asked how she knew that, she said, (more…)

By Chris Ingram

The Tampa Tribune

Published Thursday, December 20, 2012

Following the horrific tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary, like many parents, I thought about my own kids and the pain those children’s families must be going through.

Nothing can bring their little ones back, or ease the pain of trying to understand why this happened.

In thinking about this horrendous event, I recalled how late last year my daughter Casey, (who was only 7 years old at the time) (more…)

By Chris Ingram

The Tampa Tribune

Published Thursday, November 22, 2012

Last weekend my three girls played their last Pony League softball game at Skyway Park. At the start of the game, I had mentioned to my wife that I was somewhat glad the season is over as we would now have our Saturdays back.

Then the game started.

In the second inning, my eldest daughter, Casey, who is 8 and was playing second base, had an unassisted double-play. She caught a pop-up and then ran to third where she got the runner on third base out for failing to return to base following the fly out.

After Casey caught the pop-fly, (more…)

By Chris Ingram

The Tampa Tribune

Published Sunday, May 27, 2012

Charles “Charlie” Banks has lived in Tampa since 1959, when Nick Nuccio was mayor and Hillsborough County had just under 400,000 residents. Charlie turned 94 this year but looks younger than he is. His mind is still sharp, and he’s still interested in exploring new ideas in business, pondering politics and discussing ways to make the world better.

Charles "Charlie" Banks

Charlie makes an impression the moment you meet him, with his (more…)