Their Children

I think this is the ultimate goal for us, their children:

That we should forget that we entered this world, screaming in confusion
questioning, as we age, without ever getting a straight answer
becoming them before we thought we were ready
surpassing them without our own self-permission
and taking their burdens, not understanding why
no instructions were ever written,
not realizing
that no one ever knew enough to write.

We should forget everything, every awkward, painful, formative day
or at the very least, pretend
that those moments were all accidents

because accidents are easier to digest than
oversight or ignorance or neglect

because accidents allow the past to keep its innocence.

…

I wrote this with many of my family and friends in mind, including me. I wrote this to remind myself that most parents are doing the best that they can with what they’ve got. Amazing what kids have to go through, especially those who are growing up now, in a deceivingly overinformed world that is still unsure of itself.