A Poem on Parenting Now
Hold. Laugh. Tap-Tap-Tap. Safe. Stay. Holding My Breath.
How do we parent now?
one weathered hand open,
etched palm to the sky
soft supple-skinned pudgy hand,
new palm leans on the tattered palm
hold
hold
hold
‘I have a question’, she says
‘if a cow has four stomachs
which stomach rumbles
when hungry?’
laugh
laugh
laugh
then a clock strikes 12:32 am
a yelp pierces the night air
small feet shuffle-stomping
an oversized water bottle karate chops a doorframe
and some righteous raspy cough escapes its ribbed jail
tap
tap
tap
like the mouth of a large blue whale
the sheets open for the small being
‘mama, can i snuggle you?’
the sheet shakes with an impatient yes
and you swallow her whole.
safe
safe
safe
as you cozy back to sleep
she rolls over and asks,
‘what’s for dinner tomorrow?’
heaving a large belly breath
you whisper ‘waffles’ because whimsy
stay
stay
stay
and she squeals, ‘I love you
to the moon and back
to space and back
to chicken’ because whimsy
And you whisper-respond, I love you to forever.
and this
holding and tap-tap-tap awake
to safety and staying tight in a cocoon
until she rolls her big eyelash-ed eyes
and you surrender
and let go yet still
holding
holding
holding
your breath
same as it has always been
and so,
this is how we parent now.
💜💜💜
❤️❤️❤️