Poems about sons growing up are always heartfelt, and this one has a way of tugging at the heartstrings no matter how many times you read it. We think “To My Grown Up Son” by Alice E. Chase is particularly poignant — a gentle reminder of just how fast those small, busy years fly by.
“To My Grown Up Son” by Alice E. Chase
My hands were busy through the day,
I didn’t have much time to play
The little games you asked me to,
I didn’t have much time for you.
I’d wash your clothes; I’d sew and cook,
But when you’d bring your picture book
And ask me, please, to share your fun,
I’d say, “A little later, son.”
I’d tuck you in all safe at night,
And hear your prayers, turn out the light,
Then tiptoe softly to the door,
I wish I’d stayed a minute more.
For life is short, and years rush past,
A little boy grows up so fast,
No longer is he at your side,
His precious secrets to confide.
The picture books are put away,
There are no children’s games to play,
No goodnight kiss, no prayers to hear,
That all belongs to yesteryear.
My hands once busy, now lie still,
The days are long and hard to fill,
I wish I might go back and do,
The little things you asked me to.
Why This Poem Still Resonates
Every parent knows the feeling of being pulled in a dozen directions at once — dinner on the stove, laundry piling up, a little one tugging at your sleeve asking you to just come and play for five minutes. This poem captures that quiet tension between the busyness of raising a child and the fleeting nature of childhood itself.
It’s a gentle nudge to put down the to-do list a little more often, and a comforting reminder for parents of grown children that those years, however rushed they felt at the time, mattered more than any of the tasks that seemed so urgent.
Share the Feeling
If this poem struck a chord, you might also enjoy The Last Time Poem and A Letter from a Mother to her Daughter, two more reflective reads for parents navigating the bittersweet passage of time.
What Did You Think?
Did this poem move you? Share your thoughts in the comments below — we’d love to hear how it made you feel.
Don’t Miss Our Weekly Ideas
Want more heartfelt reads, family activity ideas, and parenting inspiration delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free newsletter and join our community for a weekly dose of family-life ideas you’ll actually want to open.
