Learning Life’s Ways
Once when I was in kindergarten I ran towards my mom tears flowing from my eyes because a girl
said she didn’t want to be my friend anymore.
My mom simply laughed
I love you, she said
She said I love you
I instantly stopped crying.
She fixed me with I love you.
Later when I was in elementary I hurt my friend’s feelings. Again I ran to my mom
Apologize, she said
The next day I told my friend I’m sorry
I fixed it with I’m sorry
But as I grew older I found myself going less to my mom and more to my room.
As I grew older
I found that my tears weren’t about preschool drama or falling off my bike anymore.
As I grew older
I saw how easily I love you was thrown around
how apologies were unheard of
As I grew older
I found that my I love yous were no longer only for my parents
and I’m sorry was usually never enough
But as I grew older I also learned about life’s mystery.
I learned about the greed of the universe
That takes those we love.
How time waits for no one.
How apologies never seemed to fix anything. And how the effect of I love you
is temporary
But when it all amounts to too much
I find myself going back to my mom
tears pouring from my eyes
So I can hear her say
“I love you”
