let it snow

"Let It Snow" by David Sedaris
This essay is a quick, humorous look at childhood through the eyes of an adult looking back. I think the best part is the way that Sedaris portrays his mother; I can't really hate her because she is a real character, and not one-sided. He uses humor to break up what could otherwise be a depressing look at childhood with parents that maybe don't care that much about their children. I love the ending, when the kids help their mother back to the house.

Some questions:
1. How can you separate yourself enough from painful memories to find the humor in them?
2. What's the best way to balance between an adult-looking-back voice and a child's perspective?
3. How do we find the little moments in life that can say so much in a short piece?