What Is a Son?

A son is a warm spot in your heart and a
smile on your lips.

In the beginning he is charmingly innocent,
putting his complete trust in you.

He comes to you for a hand to hold, and for
the security only your arms can provide.

He shares his tales of adventure, and
knows how proud you are of his discoveries
and accomplishments.

All his problems can be solved by a hug and
a kiss from you, and the bond you share is
so strong it is almost tangible...

Time passes, and your innocent little boy
starts to test his limits. He lets go of your
hand to race into the midst of life without
thinking ahead or looking both ways.

His problems have grown along with him,
and he has learned that you can’t always
make his life better or kiss his troubles away.

He spends much of his time away from you,
and though you long for the closeness you
once shared, he chooses independence and
privacy.

Discoveries and accomplishments aren’t as
easy to come by now, and sometimes he
wonders about his worth.

But you know the worth of that young man.
He is your past and your future. He is hopes
and dreams that have made it through each
and every disappointment and failure.

In your heart, your son is precious and
treasured. Together, you struggled through
the years trying to find the right amount of
independence for each new stage of his life,
until finally, you had to learn to let him go.

Now you put your trust in him, leaving that
son, whom you hold so dear, totally in his own
care. You hope he always remembers that you
have a hand for him to hold, and arms to
provide comfort or support.

Most of all, you hope that he believes in
himself as much as you believe in him, and
that he knows how much you love him.
-Poem by Barbara Cage