Children’s curiosity can put us on a spot,
not all questions have answers on the dot.
daughter asked about my most difficult test,
probably to know a subject that was not my best.

How should I tell her-life is a series of tests,
that appear at destiny's behest,
without a syllabi to prepare beforehand,
you just learn to dance on slippery land.

I deliberate to prevent over sharing,
primary parental instinct is caring,
on persistence, I tell her of some times,
when my decisions were far from prime.

Recalling when and how I tripped and failed,
and how life taught lessons, and then bailed,
helped me relive some old carefree days,
when life was lived day to day. 

She hears me with eyes widened in wonder,
did I reveal too much, I ponder,
maybe I spoke much. Ow brother!
did I forget, I am her mother.

But, now she is aware,
her mom had the spirit to dare,
unafraid of mistakes-laid bare,
I know you more-she smilingly declares.

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• family life
• life and its ways
• Memories
• parenting
• poems