You are the Nurturer
Interpreter
Advocator
Mediator
Safe Place
Improvisor, ready for any situation.

You breathe, you hug, you give space, you clean up,
you lose sleep, you meet, you greet the new day with hope
you cry, you rage (in the quiet away from their eyes and ears and heart).

The future looms —
the densest of fogs without clear direction —
holding the anxiety, apprehension
for they cannot know your deepest fear
(what will they do when I’m not here?)

Well-meant words, often kind cuts
are dissonant to existence, but
appreciated for their intent
though silence and empathy lent
means so much more.
And chance meetings of others who mirror us
are soul-lifting moments of reflection.

You may never hear the words you crave —
The “I love you,” the “thank you,” the cascade
of emotion you thought would come
when you brought a tiny human home.
And the grief is palpable and unknowable
to those who do not endure the sleepless nights
the tiny moments, the endless fights.

And yet, we have shifted away from
idyllic dreams of “one day” when
all of the “challenges” will be gone.
More than any professor imparts
we are students of our heart in the world.
We shift and learn and become
Ph.Ds of our own little ones.

Even if it is never said
never read in a card on special day
or shown with a hug, or asked to play
you are loved.
they are grateful.
they see what you do
they know how much you give.

Have grace with yourself
Know you are loved
That you are never alone
That you are seen and known
(And that you deserve an island vacation.)