minnesota writing project
center for writing
mwp.umn.edu

Andrea Nelson

Lessons from My Son

You’re only three years old,
But that’s old enough,
To understand,
That things are changing.

The thing I want you to understand,
Is that your importance in my life is not.

I know that I’m the parent,
And you’re the child,
So I should be teaching you,
But the truth is,
You’re the one who’s teaching me.

You’ve taught me that love at first sight does exist.
You’ve taught me what it means to be truly exhausted.

You’ve taught me how to share.
Everything.

You’ve taught me that I have more patience than I thought.

You’ve taught me the importance of trying new things,
Even when they look gross.

You’ve taught me to slow down
And appreciate the beauty of the world around me.

You’ve taught me how to be brave in the face of things unfamiliar
And how to be brave when facing my fears.

Most importantly, you’re teaching me,
Every day,
How to be a mom.

Your little brother will be here soon,
And our world is changing.
But not my love for you.

Click on this image to see Andrea's digital story, Lessons from My Son.