The Child
(and you were responsible for them) –
Let’s say you are in the middle of work so you tell them,
“Hold on just one minute.”
They hold on for several and then they return to you again and say,
“Hey, I am like really hungry”
and then you might say,
“Yeah – yeah – just one second.”
Finally, they run into the room, and they say,
“Please, I haven’t eaten anything all day and its 4:00pm”
and you say,
“Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry that’s terrible!
What do you want?
What can I get you?”
And you start to scramble eggs or toast toast
or run to McDonalds for a happy meal
or start to see what goes well with the can of tuna in your pantry
and the single bagel left in the freezer.
You use your kitchen witchery to get that child fed quickly.
And you sit down and sigh once you’re through
and think thank goodness for you.
You feel so accomplished you go to lie down.
And just as you don't hear a sound,
the child returns to you and says,
“I have to use the loo!”
And you think,
“Ah, man, I thought I was through.
I was just about to fall asleep, what’s the matter with you?”
So you lie there hoping the child will go away,
like maybe they’ll figure it out on their own
Or they’ll just hold it like the telephone
But then they begin to give you a shake and they say,
“No, really, I really gotta go.”
And you wouldn’t tell them no,
but you were just about to have a dream about that guy
and you think if you stay still right where you lie,
but they start stamping their feet and scream,
“I AM ABOUT TO PEE ON YOU IF YOU DON’T MOVE,”
so you shoot up from your couch
and practically carry them to the toilet
praying all the while for your white carpet.
Finally, they finish their business and that is all through
and you think maybe the focus will go back to you.
But now they’ve got homework to do.
And you think –
oh, we can just do it tomorrow,
but you look into their math-loving eyes that are filled with sorrow,
so you say five more minutes,
or you distract them with baking cookies
or ice cream,
or you ask them if they’ve seen Frozen 17.
And you watch the whole movie,
you sing-along too –
you even download the game and play it with them on your PS2.
You think, “Oh look at all the things we can do!”
And then . . .
they remind you,
“Look, I really have that work to do.
And if I don’t have it done,
the teacher won’t let me have any fun,
and my PE coach will make me run
and please, just help me get it done?”
So you sigh your deepest sigh and say, “You’re no fun,”
you lie to them and hurt them saying, “You could probably use a run.”
Is that what you would do?
Is that what you would say?
I think, for most people, they would say,
“No way!
How could anyone treat a child that way?!
Of course I would feed them!
Of course I would try!
Of course I would help them with homework and not tell a lie!
Of course I would get them to that toilet double quick!
And I wouldn’t try any of those silly funny tricks –
I’d just help them as soon as I could –
because I’m a good person,
and a good person would!”
And for that, I commend you,
I really do!
I wanna believe you,
I wanna believe that that’s true.
But here’s the thing –
What if I told you –
Instead of the child, the child was you?
Today I am grateful for:
- The company and delight of other people
- Rehearsals
- Cool water and warm breezes
- Dogs and grackles and human beings
- Magical moments that I get to be seeing
- Learning new roles
- Dusting off old shows
- Elf shaped toes
- God only knows
- Setting boundaries and saying no
- Putting myself first
- Changing my mind and being okay with it
- Flexibility
- Trying things
- Relaxing walks
- Positive Self-Talk
- Being a writer, a lover, a dancer, a singer, a fighter, a swimmer, a runner, a baker, a kinder, a feeling human being, a daughter, a child, an adult, a friend, a sparkle of sunshine, a magical elf, my whole complete and ever evolving self
- Therapy
- Kindness
- Buttery biscuits
- Wheat thins and triscuits
- Firehouse subs
- Bacon bbq beans
- Boom Chicka Pop
- Kettle corn
- Mr. Clean
- My ability to taste
- My ability to hear
- Expressing all that I am feeling
- Breakfast tacos. Specifically, chorizo and egg and potato and egg.
- Hugs that allow you to melt into another human even if for only a moment.
- Someday I'll sit in a theatre again and watch a show.
- Research for my job includes listening to Christmas music and watching music videos - oh, and maybe learning some hip-hop dance moves? Definitely could use some lip-sync tips.