“For My Children”

by Shelly Moore Caron

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One day soon you’ll be grown with families of your own.
Our house will be quiet; won’t feel much like a home.
Not the same, anyway, as back in the day-
when toys littered the floors from hours of play.
I hope you remember the good times we had.
I hope you don’t choose to dwell in the bad.
When my buttons were pushed and I broke down to bits,
I wish I could erase all the pain and conflicts.
Stepping outside my ego and seeing the full view –
I understand how all of it worked together to mold you
into the beautiful, compassionate humans you’ve become-
the dark only exists because of the sun.
I love you, I love you, I love you both so.
One day I hope you wake up and just know,
Deep in the depths of your heart and your soul
it takes both darkness and light to make oneself whole.

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