In the mirror, one more gray hair in my head
Everyday there seems to be one more
Looking in the mirror is something I dread.

Then I think of the children I've raised, and
things I've had to deal with throughout my life
Measles, chicken pox, and breaking up fights.
Taking children to the hospital, sometimes
in the middle of the night.

Teacher's conference, "Do you know what your child did?"
"No, but be sure he won't do it again."
Siblings squabbling over nothing, than smile so sweet,
No mother, it certainly wasn't me!

And as they grew into teens, sometimes sarcastic and mean,
They were sure I knew nothing, they knew it all.
Then there's the mother's curse, the one you had too,
"When you grow up I hope you have children like you!"

The six kids are gone, I'm a grandma now, and somehow
I survived it all.  But just to get even once in a while, when
the parents don't know. I take my wee ones, spoil them rotten and give them back with a smile.

So now I look in the mirror, think of my life, raising children
Making a living, some things good, some bad.  But no,
my gray hairs are not a thing of horror.
Not at all, they show I have lived and are...
                   A badge of honor!

                                       Mary E. Lacey
                                              2010