Category: Life Lessons

The Family Tree

Oh boy, here comes the assignment
I dread it for reasons you’ll see.
The teacher says class, for homework tonight
You must all make a family tree.

Becky will bring in a big sturdy tree
With branches that read Mom and Dad.
With Grandmas and Grandpas and cousins galore
And a branch for her new brother Brad.

Of course Jeremiah will bring his in too.
This assignment was made just for him
His family’s so big that his tree overflows
It’s hard to know where he’ll begin.

But my tree is small, just mother and me.
I don’t have a branch for a father.
No brothers or sisters, no uncles or aunts
I don’t know why I even bother.

And yet, even though my tree’s just one branch
My mother’s the trunk and here’s why.
She’s strong and she’s tough and she’s mighty.
And her dreams lift me up to the sky.

So maybe this homework is not really bad
It’s made me take stock of my lot.
My family is only my mother and me
But now I see just what I’ve got.

And what I have got is a parent
That’s worth so much more than I knew.
My tree is one I’m really proud of
And mom’s someone I’m proud of too.

 

 

 

Seven Years Old

I’m seven years old and I’m different
And my friends just couldn’t care less.
My family accepts me for who I am
And for that I am totally blessed.
But sometimes I hear grown-ups talking
The thing they’re discussing sounds bad.
They’re saying some stuff that is awful and cruel
And the language they use makes me sad.

What if their words effect all my friends
And show them it’s easy to hate?
Of course I’ll remind them that I am just me
But the truth is I may be too late.
The problem is easy to spot if you look
It’s the grown-ups, it’s not girls and boys.
They think ’cause I’m different that I must be bad
And they’re loud and they make lots of noise

About how it’s better if we’re all the same
That’s the way that they think things should be.
But they are not right and what’s even worse
Is the impact their words have on me.
If they looked past the ways I am different.
They would see how alike we are
Except I’m more kind and loving and fair
And a much better person by far.

 

Color

I met a girl and fell in love.
That’s great, our families say.
Most everything about us fits
In every single way.

We both like art, we both like sports
We love to travel too.
Running and reading and dancing
That’s what we like to do.

But there are folks who think we’re wrong
Cause her skin’s brown, mine’s white.
Our color creates a problem?
In what world is that right?

We’re talking pigmentation here
They cannot be for real.
The color of a person’s skin
Is simply no big deal.

It’s absolutely meaningless
And more than that, it’s wrong.
To try and separate us
When clearly we belong

Together in this silly world
Where love is hard to find.
So they’ll just have to come around
Or they’ll be left behind.

With all of their old thinking
And all of their old ways
The world is changing, and guess what?
These are the good old days.

What Makes a Family

They say love makes a family,
And I would say that’s right.
They’re people that live together
Who laugh and talk and fight.

Sometime you have a Mom and Dad
Sometimes two Dads, a son.
Sometime two Moms, sometimes three kids
Hold on, I’ve just begun.

You might have Grandma, Grandpa too.
No kids upon the scene.
Just folks with lots of love to give
Who try not to be mean.

There might be sisters and a dog
Or just no pets at all
There might be uncles and some Aunts
A cousin who is tall.

Some go to work and some stay home
The kids must go to school
But who’s a member of your group
Won’t follow any rule.

No matter how your family looks
It’s language, size, or hue.
If you feel loved and you feel safe,
It’s a family through and through.

Me

They say I’m strong, I know my mind.
Those words just make me laugh.
When we are born we’re who we are
We’re on a certain path.

Yes,  I know how I want to act
What clothes I want to wear.
Folks think I’m brave and self assured
They think I just don’t care.

But I am fighting all of you
By standing straight and tall.
I don’t fit in, that may be true
There is no choice at all

For you would say that I’m a boy
That’s what most people see.
But underneath I am a girl
And underneath is me.

Advice

Parents, just love your children
As they are, it’s as simple as that.
Don’t try to make them something they’re not
Don’t care if they’re skinny or fat.
Or full of life or lazy
Or tall or short or smart.
The only thing kids want from you
Is to love them with all your heart.

Being Present

People looking at their phones
Earbuds in their ears.
Laptops at the ready
No one even hears.

All the sounds around them.
The birds, the cars, the talk.
No one pays attention.
They’re texting when they walk.

Put down your stuff, turn it off.
Right now, step away.
See the world around you.
Try it for today.

If you are just more present
In what is happening now.
You surely won’t regret it
‘Cause the world is one big WOW!

Growing up

The truth is my youth is over.
When did it slip away?
Don’t really know when I got old.
Can’t point to a single day.

When I knew yep, I’m a grown-up.
My toys are gone for good.
I’ve got responsibilities.
It’s clearly understood.

That grown-ups must be practical;
Mature. steadfast, and strong.
You’re the people your friends  run to
When the world’s gone awfully wrong.

You’re a college grad, a neighbor.
A boss, employee, a friend.
You might not always feel grown-up
You may have to pretend

That you know what you are doing.
You get what life’s about.
If you should stumble as you go,
Your shrink will help you out.

Moodiness

At noon I’m yellin’ at my mom.
At one, a fight with dad.
My folks are getting so concerned
That I have turned out bad.

But then by two my mood is gone.
I’m pleasant as can be.
“I love you Mom” “Hey dad, you’re great.”
They gape and stare at me.

The teenage years are difficult.
Your moods have ebbs and flows.
You’re sweet and then you’re miserable.
That’s just the way it goes.

When I am acting horrible.
Seem like I’ve lost my way.
Just hang on tight, this too shall pass.
I’ll be grown up some day.