A word prompt to get your creativity flowing this weekend. How you use the prompt is up to you. Write a piece of flash fiction, a poem, a chapter for your novel…anything you like. Or take the challenge below – there are no prizes – it’s not a competition but rather a fun writing exercise. If you want to share what you come up with, please leave a link to it in the comments.
Word Prompt
Barricade
Challenge
So, I feel it’s quite alright to do a weekend prompt on a Monday when there will be none the following week, right? Right. Thanks for hosting, Sammi!
A Blessing and a Curse
It is both a blessing and a curse to have a welcoming disposition. There is something heartwarming about knowing that my home is inviting, that it is a place where one feels comfortably at ease and wanted.
That said, I do not live alone. And guess what? My kids’ friends also feel that my home is welcoming, inviting and a place to feel comfortably at ease and wanted. So much so, they just waltz in, doorbell unrung!
There are days I would like to set up a barricade to keep them out!
You know those days when you just want to be in your bubble and do your own thing without having anyone breathe your air. And no matter they are downstairs and you up. They’re THERE, and you know it. Which is enough.
A Dalectable Life 
Ah, yeah! I hear them are called boundaries and that them are good things overall and that sometimes they need an extra dose of enforcing … Though, I hear ya also on the beauty of a welcoming home (which not all homes are, mind). Ah, the dilemma.
And boundaries are cool, but that don’t make them much fun. So there’s that.
Happy FBF (Fruitful Barricade Fantasies) to ya!
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LOL!
I honestly didn’t know where I was gonna go with this one, then Fred just walked in, with a “Hey!”, took off his boots and went downstairs to join my son…
Boom!
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LOL, I hear ya!
I totally get you!
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I was gonna go a whole ‘nother direction but couldn’t get the words to behave…
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Methinks the words take after the writer.
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Do ya?
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Them rascals! 😉
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I have never known it any other way 💜💜💜
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And truly, big picture-wise? I’d rather be open than closed…🧡🧡🧡
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Yes me too 💜💜
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Wait…what?? Just barge in?! No, no. not. cool. at. all. Let’s hear it for barricades and locked doors.
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Yep. Course, my kids have told them not to bother ringing the bell and to just waltz in…
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Awk!! Your guys probably wouldn’t last 5 minutes in my crib before running away (or being pushed out). LOL
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LOL! I’m just too effing lax…
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🥰Probably why your home is so welcoming unlike mine which more akin to Dante’s Inferno (aka hell).
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I do know who Dante is 😉
And I guess deep down, I would have it no other way.
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Precisely. 😍Refer to my earlier comment on the welcoming bit.
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😘😘
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Dear Dale,
I’m not surprised by your dilemma. You are indeed a welcoming soul, but we all need space. And don’t we know about others breathing our air. 😉 A great term I picked up from a Canadian friend.
Perfect use of the prompt. Whatevah shall we do next weekend?
Shalom and lotsa boundary-respecting hugs,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Like I told Na’ama, I had no idea where to go with this prompt. It wasn’t working and then Fred just waltzed in… Nope. Having one’s air breathed is not good… She must be a cool friend 😉
So glad you enjoyed what I felt was, at best, a feeble attempt.
Shalom and lotsa love with no barriers unless I need them…
Dale
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She be’s a very cool friend indeed. 😉 ❤
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Garsh! xoxo
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🍷😘
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🍷😘
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Drawbridge up and batten down the hatches!
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Right-o!
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Our house is very quiet most of the time. When daughter visits it’s like a dropped box cymbals. We like it. Good work on the prompt, Dale.
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I can imagine when you are just the two with the dogs the dynamic becomes quite different than when someone else joins in. I’m sure once they leave (I can’t wait, sometimes) I’ll miss them. Eventually.
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Of course, you will. But there are some good points about them leaving as well.
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I’m sure if it. I still can’t wait 😉
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Yep.
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🙂
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I remember those days. But eventually the kids leave home and take their friends with them. Be sure you’re ready for that silence.
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Who knows what lies ahead?
I expect I shall loathe the silence at times that I crave today…
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I don’t loathe it. I so appreciate it.
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I’m sure I won’t on the whole either… but I’m sure there will be moments….
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But moments are moments, they’re not the whole thing. Gosh, that was profound. Yea, but it is still early 🙂
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Hahaha!! Yes your profundity is quite remarkable…😉
And yes. Moments are moments. They are everywhere in all sorts of situations.
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🙂
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Oh, the times when being welcoming and wanting space truly is a fine line.
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That it is. Mind you, most times I am happy to open my house but sometimes… oy!
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That’s easy to imagine.
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Sweet of you to say.
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Fear
Insecurity
and
Doubt
Heart
Soul
and
Brain
Friends
Family
and
Co-workers
Barricades
Road blocks
and
Interference
Stopping
Preventing
and
Halting
Dreams die
Hopes fade
And
Life unlived
Turn around
Try anew
and
Knock them down
Life
Joy
and
Happiness
Explore
Experience
and
Excite
Barricades
Walls
and
Pitfalls
Ignore
Overcome
and
Dominate
Be you
Be real
and
Be honest
Be brave
Have courage
and
Live A Life
Free
Untethered
and
True
No barricades
No fear
and
Nothing but love
Okay, I didn’t get close to the word count, but it’s kind of going on and on and on. And it’s also just a spur of the moment thing that likely doesn’t make any sense at all.
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Au contraire! This was great, Mark!
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You’re too kind.
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No. I really liked it. Am rather jealous I didn’t come up with that and another… lemme see, you had 79 words… so I’d-a needed another 55 😉
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Yeah, that word count was a major problem for this one – at least with my approach.
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Word counts can be quite the challenge. It might have run on, unless you found more things to barricade yourself from 😉
This one was a long one (for this prompt). I like them best when they are really short – even more of a challenge.
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Well then, so much for lounging around in your whatever’s and enjoying a bit of privacy. It’s great they feel st home but there should be some ground rules. Barricade yourself.
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Exactly, Jan! I’ll have to wait before I can prance around my house in my whatevers!! 😉
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Dale, well said and I am totally with you.
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Thank you, Ina
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Q,
You are the legit Mama Teresa of domestic goddesses!
I cannot relate to this in the least since I was NOT the place where my kid’s friends gathered. Polar opposite in fact, LOL. I had little use or patience for kids that weren’t mine, and it showed. I can count on one hand how many of their friends made our scene over the years.
On the plus side, one of them ended up marrying Damian, so it was quality over quantity. Yeah, Imma go with that. Of course, maybe it will never make up for the reputation I deservedly earned back in the day, but it’s something?
And yeah no . . my air is mine to breathe kiddos. 😉
B
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B,
Well. I would definitely NOT go that far. I think my being uncomplicated makes it a place of welcome (coz it sure ain’t the clean floors…)
And, the kids are left to their own devices because I’m not an in-your-face kinda mom, either. So, as long as they stayed in the basement and outta my sight… 😉
Quality over quantity is always a good thing.
LOL. Indeed. I swear it’s as they’ve gotten older that they breathe more of mine than they should!
Q
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Buahahaha! Well, you are a welcoming presence and that vibe goes a very long way for the kids.
Outta sight is the best policy, I find. And making sure you are not outta wine while they are there, that too . . .
It woiks.
So long as they leave the wine alone, 😉
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😉 I guess so. It’s not a bad thing to be…
Absolutely. I believe in that old adage: children are meant to be seen and not heard… and add on the “seen” within limits 😉
It does
And hells no, Do NOT touch my wine! (Which neither is in to, so that is safe. My beer? Not so much 😉
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It’s a great thing to be.
That is so old school, and lemme tell you, I still believe in it sometimes! Lots of sometimes.
You know what? You gave me an idea. Camo for beer. Make covers that you can slip over your good stuff with shitty beer selections that they won’t want to drink. Oh wait . . they’re kids. Never mind . . .
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I’ll take it.
Old school is, frankly, often the best way…
I was just about to say… but you came to that conclusion yourself. They drink the cheap stuff…
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You should. You wear it well.
It’s a respectful nod to some things that never should go out of style.
Of course they do. I remember those days. Wish I could forget some of em.
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Why thank you, you charmer!
I agree.
No kidding! You and me both.
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MUAH!
To the good stuff!
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MWAH!
Cheers to the good stuff!
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MUAH!
😘😘
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MWAH!!
😘😘
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I get it!
I live on a main artery in the city. Pals from the burbs love popping in, unannounced, when they are down town.
I love being alone in my apartment.
The doorbell broke about 19 years ago.
I’ve never had it fixed. Just….. taking my time.
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I really love having visitors, truly. And I’m okay with my kids having friends occasionally – note the word… sometimes you just don’t wanna, yanno?
I don’t blame you!!!
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In some crazy way, it’s an honour that the kids want to hang at your place. ⚡️💥
At least you know they are OK!
Yet, alone time can be very restful, productive and more.
I never had any kids, so I’m missing a piece of info.
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I agree. I am the cool mom – been told so 😉
There is that.
I figured the time will come sooner than later when I’ll find myself fully alone. I might miss the noise on occasion – that’s when I’ll invite more peeps in!!
You ain’t missing much (some days…)
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Enjoy your fortune, dear Thunder!
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Thank you, dear Sorceress!
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