A Poem about Daughters and Sons From Poems about My Children and Parents, Letting Your Adult Child Go - A Key For Home
75
Boxes are all packed
The truck is ready to go
Standing before me,
I'm shocked
To see that you're grown.
My precious baby
Sweet girl
For such a short while.
Where is that little girl
Who always needed me so?
Neither in front, nor behind,
Where has she gone?
Her little girl giggle
Sometimes whispers
A trace of a melody
The refrain of a song,
A bit of my memory
To carry along.
There are moments
That seem
An eternity to take,
Then there are those
So fleeting,
So fragile,
You fear if you breathe,
They will break.
Somewhere in-between
Is where this moment fits in,
There is so much to say
So little time,
I don't know
If I know
where to begin.
We've prepared
For this moment
All of your life,
One day it would happen
I've always known,
You would have to go out
To be independent
Following where life led,
I prayed softly
Each night
As I put you to bed.
"Sleep peacefully
My little one,
Dream of days
That will come,"
I crooned
As I rocked you
Close to my breast,
"Up above you will soar
Your wings you will test."
Sweet angel girl
With a devilish grin
It's hard to imagine
How quickly
Has passed,
Moments that sped by
From beginning
To end,
From the first
To the last.
Another prayer
Another time
While lying awake,
Waiting to hear
A key in the door,
"Love well
And be loved,"
They all are things
I wished and prayed for.
That you would be healthy
And happy,
All of you days.
Someday
Able to look back
And be proud,
Of the life you had made.
Skeptics who say
I know are mistaken,
Standing before me
You are the proof.
I am awed by the sight.
Of your vision and fire
Your strength of character
Your compassionate heart.
I marvel and wonder
At all you've accomplished
Already done
My heart swells
With pride
To know this person
That you've become.
It's time to go
You're ready to leave
To take flight from the nest,
To fly high
To be free,
Adventures await
What will life bring?
I am happy for you
It is how it should be
For this is the natural
I will miss you
So much more
When you are gone,
Tears now are threatening
My fragile veneer of calm.
There's just one more thing
Hold out your hand
I've something that is yours
You must take it with you,
Keep it in a safe place
Tuck it away,
Insurance of sorts
Against some rainy day.
Always remember
No matter how high you may fiy
Or how far you may roam,
If ever you need it
You've a key in your pocket
Your key to home.
- Kristen Burns-Darling
©2011 (all rights reserved)
Ashley and I 1990
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Oh its a very beatiful poem and so touching ! Small sweet words flowing down all the way are like drops of your tears that say everything - your love and care, sadness, concern and the thoughts for your child who is now adult and has to move to a new home. You always write so excellently and I am one of your admirers, touch wood its true.
All my Best Wishes to you.
- Kamalesh
I know you must have cried as you wrote this bittersweet poem. You have summed it all up so well, so beautifully. My heart broke the day my son left for college and the day my daughter got married. All the years had flown past. Big big hugs to you for setting her free with love and not guilt, for letting her know she can always come home. Just an amazing poem!
@bluestar - My oldest, is only partially mine, in that she is my niece, she has a mother and a father, but I was her third parent all of her life, we laughingly call her my "niece-child" She married in 2006, and had a son in 2007, she and her husband have been out on their own for 5 years, but she's never lived more than 5 minutes from me, and last Friday, they moved all the way across the country..It is a wonderful opportunity for them, and I was the first one, when they were considering the move, to tell them to go, that they deserved to be a family in their own right.....That was when I didn't realize how hard it would be....My son is planning to leave next July to join the Navy just like his father did, right after high school, my daughter, a year younger, is planning to leave for college the year after that, I will be effectively losing 3/4 of my children, one right after the other, 3 years in a row....at least I still have my three year old....maybe I can convince her to stay with Mommy forever?
This is an absolutely beautiful work. It brought a tear to my eye as I savored every word. Unfortunately for me my two oldest haven't spoken to or seen me in years, they were casualties of a bitter divorce with their mother and me.
However I to miss them daily and they will always be in my heart till my last breath. I pray that some day they bury their bitterness and come back in to my life. I fortunately still have a 17 yr old son living with me, even though he has struggles in his young life, he at least is here and standing with me and working on his young peer pressured life.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful tribute to your daughter she will always be close and dear to your heart and never really far. What a tender feeling to be loved.
@Kamalesh - Your kind words humble me! I hadn't actually thought about it as I was writing it, but you are right, all of those little words are the personification of every tear that I have cried since she and her husband and son left last Friday. Thank you again for your support!
@Poohgranma- Sherry you know that I did....I have been crying ever since! I was the first one, when her husband got the job offer, and they were only considering the move, to jump up and tell her that they should take it. It is really a wonderful opportunity for them, both for his career, financially, and for them personally as a family. They got married so young, and then had the baby right away, and as much as I love them, I know from experience how the only way that they will ever get to be a family in their own right is for them to leave here, I know, because Michael and I went through it ourselves; I just didn't realize how hard it was going to be to let go of her... She may be my niece, but I have been her third parent all of her life, she has always been more daughter than niece... That is why I call her "niece-child."... Joey is planning to leave for boot camp right after graduation next year, and Jordie is planning to leave for college the summer after that.....Do you think it would be wrong to change tactics and brainwash Jami into staying with mommy forever? Thank you, as always, for your kind words and your support!
Saddlerider - You always say the kindest things, and I am always humbled by them. Our children are only really ours for a short period of time, and I know that this is the best thing for her and for her husband and child, it is just harder than I thought it would be to actually have her be more than 5 minutes away. We still talk everyday, several times a day, and Colorado is only 15 hours away, but at the moment it is so new and so fresh that it feels like a billion miles away... I am glad that you have your son with you, My son will turn 17 next month, and is planning to leave us for boot camp right after graduation next year, with his sister to follow in his footsteps, leaving for college the summer after, so this is only my first taste of this particular brand of separation-anxiety....I hope it gets easier! I have a three year old at home to, and while I taught the two older girls to be very independent I can't help wondering if I should change my tactics? Thanks again for your kind words, and your support, they are much appreciated!
You have raised them to have confidence in themselves and to know your love. That is all you can do. It troubles my heart so that your son will be going into the military. My son wanted to also and maybe it would have been a better path for him but I fought it with every ounce of my being. That is a personal family decision though. Thank God you have the little one left at home because when mine both left within in two months of each other and my husband's ex-wife was doing everything she could to destroy him and us, that is when his disability manifested in a way that has never lessened and within a year my depression came again stronger than ever and has stayed.
That is not to say this was normal, children leaving home IS normal and if I had not put all of my attention and wrapped up my life so tightly with theirs, we would have all been a lot healthier. You are doing the right thing. You are a wonderful Mom and a beautiful soul!
Sweet. :)
@ xanzacow - Thank you!
This is a beautiful poem about family. If it is your direct child, or your niece, it does not matter. What is displayed is unconditional love. Thank you for sending sunshine into a stormy day.
@ Sweet Beulah Land - What nice things you say. Thank you so much! I am humbled by your kindness.... Have a wonderful day!
A beautiful piece which leaves me breathless with admiration for your work and intent. Excellent writing.
@chspublish - Thank you for your kind words. I am glad that you enjoyed it.
I liked this line-
"Love well - and be loved.."
our girls are always hardest to watch leave. But we never really do let them go...
Thank you for this poem- much heartfelt emotion.
peace sister- greg
@gg.zaino - Yes, yes they are, although I suspect I will have much the same trouble next year when my son leaves home....ah well, it was much harder to let the oldest go, than I thought it would be, but it really is the way it should be...
Thank you for your kind words, I am glad that you enjoyed it, (and for the fan mail, and the follow) I look forward to reading more by you!
Sweet!!!
@ LadyFae - Thank-you, and thanks for the follow also!
Time flies! I've raised my late life partner's child since she was 4 years old, she just turned 15 a couple of weeks ago and, parenting comes without an instruction manual. There's been many times I have gotten it wrong but, many times I didn't and, she is blossoming into such a nice teen now.
Your prose is heartfelt and full of love, thanks for sharing it and thanks for the follow, following you now too. :)
Thank you for sharing this
You had me at the first few words. I am losing my son too soon, off to his own life, unfettered by my choices, to some extent....sweet freedom for him but some added worries for me..but he will do fine...they all do..and then they come back around for a visit or a handout, and then eventually they will bring new children for us to enjoy all over again...lovely poem.~~~MFB III
@ Daydreamertoo - If we are doing our job, then we spend the entirety of their early lives preparing them to spread their wings and fly...I have always known this, and I was the very first to jump up and tell them that they should take the opportunity....just didn't know how heart wrenching it was going to be when she actually drove away! Happy to report, they are settling in well, and even though I miss them terribly, I am also very proud. I still have a 15 year old, a 16 year old, and a 3 year old at home to distract me...The 16 year old will be 17 next week, and is planning to leave for bootcamp next summer....Lets hope it gets a little easier! Thanks for your kindness and for the follow!
Awwwww... thank you so much for your comment! Very much appreciated. :)
MFBIII - It is so true isn't it? I am looking at doing this three years in a row, as my son is planning to leave for bootcamp right after graduation next year, and my younger daughter, who has been planning her life since she was five, is hoping to be at Texas A&M the year after that. You are right when you say that they all do okay, as the eldest and her family are settling in just fine. It is hard to let them go, but I believe that you and your son will both do well! Thank you for your time and for your kind words, I am glad that you enjoyed this
loved it...truly hits home as I watch my own baby girl chase her dreams, leaving me...standing alone...thank you:)
Janell Rihiannon - You are very welcome! It was so much harder to let her go than I thought it would be! But I am so very proud of both of them! I hope it gets easier for you and for me, I have to do it again next year with my son! Thank you for taking the time to read this, and for the follow!
..well your writing has a key to my heart and mind - and this is such a wondrous epic piece of writing that my heart and mind is in a very special place right now - because of you!!
epi- You say the sweetest things...You make me blush and as always your opinion matters ever so much! I am glad you enjoyed this!
My only child, my son left home recently and I empathise. It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to go through, but he's doing fine!
This is a profound, heartfelt and well expressed poem.
@aslanlight - I am glad that your son, like my oldest, (who is actually my niece, but who has always been more like a daughter who has been blessed with three parents) and her husband and their son, are also doing well, I am having harder time with this than they are...Next summer it will be my son's turn, and my daughter the year after that....my three year old has years to go at home with mom... Thank you for the time spent reading this, and for your kind words! I am glad that you enjoyed it!
A beautiful, pognant poem. My oldest is 15 years old so it might not be too long before she flies the nest and I am not looking forward to that moment at all. Thanks for sharing your touching poem with us.
@ Maggie.L - The oldest, who inspired this poem is actually my niece, who has had the wonderful luck of having had three parents her whole life, she has always been more my daughter than my niece, and as an only child, refers to my children as her siblings. She will be 22 in July, and is married with a three year old son. They moved across the country, and she is adjusting much better than I am. I also have a son who turned 17 yesterday and is planning to follow in his father's and his grandfather's footsteps and plans to leave for bootcamp next year following graduation, and a 15 year old, who will be 16 in July, and plans to leave for college the summer after that....Even then, my nest won't truly be empty as I have a three year old who will turn 4 next Monday, and I am my father's primary caregiver. I knew that it would be hard to watch the oldest go, I just didn't know how hard until she was driving away.... I sure hope it get easier! Thank you for your time in reading this hub, your kind words, and the follow! They are much appreciated. Thanks again!
awe that was so beautiful, I got three little ones myself, and I wonder how I will feel when it is time for them to leave the nest
@ allexia26 - It is an absolutely bittersweet moment. Treasure your moments with your children when they are small, every one is a blessing, and you can never get them back!
beautifully written tribute to your daughter , thanks for the read :) voted up and beautiful !
@jami l. pereira - I apologize for the delay in this reply, my father has been ill, and caring for him has kept me away from my computer and from hub pages for some time now. Thank you so much for the generosity of your time, and for your comments, they are always welcome and appreciated here!
thebluestar Level 6 Commenter 13 months ago
Beautiful tribute to a dear daughter, and the one thing that all mother's relate to is the loss, because that is what it is, when a child leaves home. My son left home Christmas 2009 and I still have a t.shirt of his, not washed that a frequently cuddle, just the smell of him is a great comfort. I miss him so much although he is now a daddy, and only lives three miles away. I have to speak to him everyday and my heart soars when I catch sight of him. He may be a daddy, but he is still my baby and that will never change. Hugs. x