Watch What You Wish For

No alarm clocks to wake you at the crack of dawn
No sprinting to be the first to capture the bathroom
No spilled milk and cereal upon the floor to mop
No school lunches to pack
No ironing that last minute change of clothes
No yelling “You’re going to miss the bus!”
No stampede as kids’ race out the door
No carpooling after school activities
No rushed dinners to cook
No homework to oversee
No refereeing children’s arguments
No phones to answer
No doorbells for the children’s playmates
No telling kids “GO TO BED”
No bathtub rings to clean
No tangled hair to comb
No one to tuck in at night
No goodnight kisses or hugs
No meals to cook unless you’re hungry
No beds to make, except the one you lay in…alone
The only warm body next to you is a cat
Only one toothbrush in the holder
The toilet seat always down
Only one load of wash to do a week
Only one glass and plate to wash
Only silence greets each day
The only smile you see is a forced reflection
Your only company a computer, a TV and stereo
Sad to dread days off, means more time alone
Many years spent within this quietude
Living inside a hollow shell
No friends, no family
How fast they’d trade their life for yours
To feel the warmth of family
To know that they are needed
Treasure the days of children’s messes
Of picnics in the park
Watching fascinated faces at the zoo
Pictures of spaghetti faces
Scrubbing sand from sweaty hair
Feeling chubby fingers wrapped around yours
Chocolate kisses upon your cheek
Let your heart swell at the sound of “I love you mom!”
Sad to have wished all those things away
Those days are gone so soon
And all that’s left are faded memories.

Dee © 2003/6/30