We grow in many different ways. As we grow, we never stop learning. With each Mother’s and Father’s Day, I find myself reminiscing about my parents. I marvel at the patience they had when I was a child, a young adult and an adult with my own family.
My parents are gone now, but I think of them often. How I would love to tell them what I’ve learned and what I’ve accomplished. I do believe my Mom and Dad would be so proud. I’m not saying they weren’t proud of me as I grew, they were. It’s just that I never really had the chance to truly thank them for all that they had given me. In some ways, I believe my parents know and are smiling with me, with every new revelation I have.
This poem has been in my head for a while. I finally put it on paper and now on my blog. It’s dedicated to all parents old and new as we grow in our understanding of life. (Note: I would like to thank Cheryl Therrien for my inspiration for this poem. Her newly published book “Letters From Grandma” gave me the push to put this poem to paper.)
We Grow
by Susan Cooper
We start as a child.
Our parents are our world.
They nurture soothe and make us feel safe.
They teach us.
We grow.
Find fault in all that they do.
We forget what they did right.
We only remember what we think they did wrong.
We grow.
Our parents remain patient with a knowing smile.
They tell us we will understand.
They endure our unkindness.
We grow.
We marry.
We become parents.
We now understand.
We grow and give them thanks.
They pass and are missed,
As the cycle continues.
We grow.
I realize I was pretty lucky when it came to my parents. They weren’t perfect, but they did the best that they could, as do I. So this is what I ask of you. If you have great parents and they are still alive, take the time to really thank them for all they have done and still do for you. It matters, and they will love you even more for it.
What are your thoughts as you look back? What are some of your revelations as you grew? What are some of the things you remember as a child that make you realize what your parent did for you?
Life’s journey continues…
PS: If you liked this, check out A Daughter’s Memory Of Her Mother and A Father’s Advise For His Daughter. Enjoy.
PS: What are some of your favorite poems and stories? If you would like to write a guest post about an experience, we would love to hear from you.
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