Hold On

 

There are times my heart is filled with joy
When your smiles are beaming at me
And I know even the smallest sacrifice of my time
Is a valuable thing
I don’t do for money
For praise
Or out of pity
I love you honestly
More than I do anything

First thing in the morning
I’m awakened
Missing my hair ties
Which are rarely found
With bits of breakfast crumbs left in their place
And three smiling children
All waiting to play
That is the beginning of a very long day

I count every second
So soon they’ll be grown
And they’ll forget all about the adventures and games
The times we ran laughing and jumping in the rain
And came home soaking wet just to do it again
Or filling big plastic bins to swim in
And water balloon fights with neighborhood kids 
Unrolling white paper across the entire lawn
For all of the kids to paint on
Scary stories told in the dark
And how you'd always beg for more


You won’t remember the gifts I've bought you
Or the money that I didn't have to spend
But I love the way you smile
When you unwrap your gifts
And that is priceless to me

When you’re crying
Hungry, sleepy, fussy
And you fall asleep while I rock you
To the sound of me singing
Little made up lullabies
Meant for only your ears

I hold you tightly
But you’re struggling to get down
I may let you walk beside me
But I’ll always reach out for your hand
Even when you’re grown
I’ll always hold on.

 

 

 

 

By Amanda M. Burns 
aka "Aunt Nanny/Mama Nana"
written for my niece and nephews, Melissa, Adam and Brady- 2000

© Amanda Saylor nee Burns. All rights reserved