8 • MAY 2017 • UPBEAT TIMES, INC. Girls in Trees by Gabriel A. Fraire ~ gafraire@comcast.net


Healdsburg, CA. ~ We raised our daughters to be self-reliant, independent and with the knowledge


they could do anything they chose to do. We believe it’s the best way to raise any child. We also felt it was impor- tant to instill in them that girls


can do


anything boys can do. But


often the best lessons are not taught but learned. We had two large trees near our property line one on our land and one on the neigh- bors. One day we saw new neighbors moving in. I was


sitting on the porch. There was a fence so I could not see but I heard to voices, a young boy and a young girls, sibli- ings.


The boy was excited and telling the girl how great trees were and he was go- ing to climb this one to the top. But, he told his


sister, “You stay here. Tree climbing is for boys. And this is a big tree. Too big for any girl to climb.”


I could hear him starting to climb up the tree and the whole way up he kept brag-


ging and almost teasing his sister about how strong he was and how boys ruled. He climbed up about as far as he felt safe and stopped. He started to puff out his chest in pride when he looked into our tree and saw my oldest daughter sitting there watch- ing him. He was so surprised to see her in the tree he lost balance and fell. Nothing got hurt in the fall, except maybe his pride.


My daughter never said a word. She turned her head in my direction , saw me and just smiled.


Gabriel A. Fraire has been a writer more than 45 years. He often writes about his children. He can be reached through his website: gabrielfraire.com


202 West 7th St. Santa Rosa, CA 95401 707-545-7528


8 • MAY 2017 • UPBEAT TIMES, INC. “To hide feelings when you are near crying is the secret of dignity.” ~ Dejan Stojanovic


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