While I decided long ago that having children was not for me, I will always be awed and grateful for my mom and all she does. Not only is she one of the most selfless women I know, but it takes a special kind of bravery to reinvent oneself, to work on one’s flaws, and to examine one’s life and say, “I want something better.” I wrote this poem for my mother a while ago and wanted to share it here, in the spirit of spring and of celebrating nurturing women everywhere.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about disquiet, and about contentment and happiness. As we step forward into the week, here is a poem I wrote some time ago, compact in size but broad in scope. Some thoughts to ponder.
One of the difficulties in getting older is watching your parents age. It is bittersweet, getting to know your parents better as adults and as people, while also watching the twilight years of someone you love. I wrote this poem with my dad in mind, who is in his eighties and is having some health issues. While we all struggle with things like money, our houses or vacation time, or our goals both long-term and fleeting — I think in the end, we all just want to be loved.