A blast from the past....found an old poem I wrote for my son Grant just before he turned 10. It is published on another site I used to write for way back in 2000. And now he is 18 years old!!! This brought tears to my eyes....
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Poem for my Firstborn on the ache of his growing up

Jul 09 '00



I decided that I would like to share with you a special poem that I wrote for my first born child, a son. He is soon to be 10 years old and I just can not figure out where the years went. It was just yesterday that I nursed him at my breast and kissed his baby sweet belly while counting his chubby toes. Now, he is running off to be with his friends, playing big boy sports, and hunting with his dad. He still will cuddle with me on occaision but these times are begining to get farther and farther between. It really breaks my heart. I know I have raised a very happy and confident son and his moving away from me and into the world is the right thing but it still hurts, as I am sure all of you who have gone through this know. Here is the poem that I wrote for him a few months ago.

Swaying back and forth
Me and my baby
Hugging and holding my firstborn
Under my heart
Remembering
When you were inside
Under my heart
And I was swaying back and forth
Dreaming of you
And what you would be
Now here you stand
Getting so tall and grown up
No longer my baby
Now my little man
And I ask you
If you remember
Remember the way I would sway with you
Before you were born
And when you were a baby
And you say "Yes"
You remember
You say "This feels real mom"
And my heart melts feeling you sway with me
Back and forth
Under my heart
Then you look up at me and smile
"Love you mom" you say
Then your gone
Down the road with your friends
And I stand there watching you
As I sway back and forth
Empty arms knowing how few times are left
To hold you under my heart
Swaying back and forth

The time really is short. My mother tried to tell me this and I didn't believe her when I had a screaming two year old and newborn. Now they are almost 10 and almost 9 and I long for the two sweet babies to hug and hold. I had a third baby much later and his time flew even faster. I hardly remember his babyhood at all. It went so fast. So cherish the days that you have, even when you feel you are at your wits end. It is all over very quickly and you too will find yourself swaying back and forth with empty arms.