To My Daughter

All the words I want to say to you when you are old enough to understand. 

The Days Are Long...

The days are long with you, my child.
The struggles get harder every day.

The innocence in your toothy smile,
the guilt when you disobey.

Your childishness is but a while
In time -
these moments will fade away.

For Keeps

Keep on smiling, keep on dancing.
Keep the faith as you keep on learning.
Keep on climbing and make-believing.
But most of all,
keep me in your heart, my darling.

You wait for the day when the crying will stop
Along with the guilt fuelled by postpartum thoughts.

You silently pray for some peace in the home
For your child to give you just five minutes alone.

You wish that you didn't have to argue and yell
That your children will do whatever you tell.

You crave for the freedom to do as you please
Instead of attending to your child's every need.

You abandon thoughts of career aspirations
To focus on early childhood education.

You tell yourself that children grow up so fast
And that these tough times will all be in the past.

Until one day, you know not when
You realise -
these are the things that you miss in the end.

- Sher C.