As parents we wish we could wrap up our kids in cotton wool and protect them from the harsh lessons of life. We love this poem from Jessica Wesolek, which captures all parents’ wishes just perfectly:

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A Message for My Child

I wish that I could show you
all the things that I have seen.

I wish that I could take you
everywhere that I have been.

I wish that I could indicate
the places where I fell,

And keep you, thus, from tripping
on those “rougher” spots as well.

I wish that I could do all this
and save you from the strife.

But I know that I’d be sparing you
the lessons of your life.

And you must learn those lessons
as hard as that may be,

Just know that you will always have
a helping hand from me.

© 1999 Jessica Wesolek

More poems for parents that you might enjoy: The Last Time and For My Grown Up Son.

Over to you, what did you think of this poem? Tell us in the comments below.