I assume that high traffic parental “heartstrings” blogs like, “The Hole in the Middle of the Bed” (see link below) are meant to do just that, to get all of us “sensitive” moms and dads, and assorted others to read it and go, “Awwww” and tear up. Well it worked. I got choked up big time and thought immediately about my children, my three sons now grown men in medical school, helping the world get fit and in better shape, and working with severely autistic kids while going to grad school in social work. All of them, like me, emotionally sensitive and aware human being trying in their own way to make the world a better place, even if it doesn’t make them wealthy business tycoons or billionaires. Not that there’s anything wrong with that….Of course the blog, about a mom who’s one child died of cancer and who’s other had early medical problems that required special attention also provides the kind of big picture, forest from the trees view that helps us to put our daily worries and petty feelings in perspective. Thoughts about someone slighting us at work, gypping us out of a few dollars, or failing to recognize our “specialness” kind of slink off the stage in a state of appropriate embarrassment when one reads about someone losing a child, and having the guts to talk about it. I wish I didnt have to read something like that every day to keep my nerves in check and my ego off the pedestal or the cross. My sons lost their mother in childhood. She wasn’t perfect but she always tried to make room for them in our bed, and there is something about a mothers side of the “circle” that cant be replaced. I hope they remember that and maybe tear up a little like I always do. The funny thing is as a Clinical Psychologist I was all ready to criticize the article for its seemingly open endorsement of  allowing children to occupy and dominate the parental bed and its sanctity vis a vis marriage. Ok, this shut my big, pious, pontificating mouth up but good. Thank you for that as well.   Cliff Mazer, Ph.D.