Memories From Parenting

"Good night, mum-bum,"

I smile as the bitter sweet memory of a toddler enters my brain,

"Good night, I love you little one,"

As I hear these words, tears fall like rain,

And smiles shine like the sun.

"Mum! Tell Daniel to go away!"

I hear these words in my memory as I climb up the stairs,

I open my daughters empty bedroom, but she's no longer there,

I smile a happy smile, and I shed a tear of dispair.

I head downstairs to the lounge,

I look through my then four year old's art work;

"I'm proud of you,"

I hear myself tell him,

As I see the sunset sky he painted, dated from today.

I hear a door slam,

As my eldest son returns home;

"I hate school!"

He cries, as he throws his coat like it is the worst slum!

Night time falls;

"Time for bed now,"

I say aloud;

A chorus of groans erupts from their little mouths.

All these memories remind me that children are precious,

They fill us with happiness, followed by sadness when

they grow up and leave us.

Childhood ends,

Adulthood begins,

But, still;

Our children remain our greatest treasures.

As I close my bedroom door,

I remember;

When a door closes, another one opens,

And,

Some doors stay closed forever,

But in our hearts,

Memories of our children remain;

And, as we sleep with tears in our eyes,

We remember that,

Our children's light always lights up the skies.