Early on a mid-September morning,

I changed your life.

From that day forward, you

spent countless nights

awake,

begging me to sleep.

Arts and crafts,

cookies,

candy,

princesses, and

Disney were our

favorites.  Every day

had a bit of magic in it.

And later came the science fair,

travel soccer,

and girls on the run.

Busy and insane, it was.

From practice to practice,

you and I stil got

to bond.

Suddenly I'm crying

over words I heard at school,

a bad grade,

a boy that doesn't like me,

or maybe a broken rule.

I want to wear makeup,

be my own person,

and feel like I fit in.

You told me it was all okay

and that things like this

wouldn't last forever.

Now you fear my driving,

ask questions about my boyfriend,

and, with me, dread the SATS.

I want to plan my future

but you tell me to

slow down.

Things like that cannot be planned

right now.

Soon I'll be wearing a

a cap and gown and heading off

to a bigger school.

Soon you'll see me in

a white dress,

walking towared the next

phase of my life.

Soon a grandchild will

rest in your arms

as you sit next to

my hospital bed.

Soon I'll be a grown up

and wanting to be a

mother as good as you.

Fifteen years have

already gone by.

Crazy so it seems.

But mom there's

so much of

my life I stilll

want you to see.

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