Matthew King

Matthew King is a teacher and writer living in Corvallis, Oregon. He also does advocacy work within school districts on behalf of students who've experienced early childhood trauma. His writing has appeared in The Oregonian, The Sun Magazine Readers Write feature, the website of the radio show A Praire Home Companion, and on the parenting website Oregonkid.com.

Charting the Distance

In the dead of winter I deliver my child to a residential treatment center for substance use. It’s over three hours from home, through a winding mountain pass. J is fourteen. I adopted him when he was eleven. Before this, our longest separation was a four-night summer camp stint but even then, he called each evening. Here, he cannot call for one week. I cannot visit for ten days.