Today's prompt asked us to showcase a social issue that is important to us. My observation of too many preoccupied parents missing their opportunity to communicate with their kids is the catalyst for this poem.
Here I Am
Shut the damn phone
Mom-my
Hang up and drive
Dad-dy
Talk to me
How was
my day
Scary, humiliating
What
did I learn
Meanness rules
Do I
have homework
A bully took it
How is
my friend
Miserable, too
Talk to me
Look at me
Show me you know
I am here
Shut the damn phone
I really like this Annis, and you are absolutely right about the parents and the phones. Never has distraction from what matters been so portable.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Meg. This really is one of my pet peeves. I remember how valuable "car time" was for connecting with my daughters when they were young. xoA
DeleteI so wish they taught good parenting at schools. Just the foundation upon which they can add a personal touch - I'm no Nazi. But seriously, I worked with kids in care and I burned out after three years. They I moved to adults in half-way houses and mental health care homes. They were just children who'd suffered as children. And still we imagine the most important job in the world is something which 'comes natural' to us. Purrlease! Great topic choice Annis, well executed. X
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Thank you, Shah. I am passionate about effective parenting. Parents are their kids' first teachers, and as you pointed out, they set the tone for their children's entire life. xoA
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