Perfectionist Rehab

I watched you grow before my eyes,

Quickened by the life inside,

My womb, steadfast and heady,

Even though we thought we were ready.

You sprung to action the day we knew,

Planning and prepping while the stick dyed blue.

Oh, the transformation – a joint venture,

Waiting a tumultuous adventure,

Confessing later how scared you felt,

Scarred by the previous hand we were dealt,

So, you focused instead on things you could control,

Ignoring the self-igniting charcoal,

Of anticipating tragedy,

Simultaneously,

You altered and shifted from a man,

Who had held within his hands,

Everything he’d ever allowed himself to want,

Abandoned dreams did you haunt.

There was once a time you ignored the desire,

For the things that have since transpired.

The abandoned boy became a dad,

And you have gifted our boys what you never had.

We’re in the trenches, you and I,

And as each and every day goes by,

I have the privilege to witness,

Your consistent persistence,

To do things differently, and break the mold,

Guiding and leading with emotions controlled.

Together we meet,

Little person needs,

Couldn’t be more significant,

Chaos our ambient.

Today we favored a day at home,

Instead of a fevered roam,

Because the lads were grumpy,

Overtired, ornery, and schlumpy.

We prefer to dawdle with the dudes,

But after one look at our hollering brood,

We admitted defeat, and did the responsible thing,

And chose instead to let them cling,

To us and our routine,

Held together by caffeine.

Guilt or grief, I am not really certain,

For abandoning plans for my favorite person,

To focus instead on a regular day,

Of naps, snacks, baths, and play.

You know your eldest had,

Told me he has the greatest dad,

Every night this past week,

Dimples studding tiny cheeks.

You hold us together, and keep us sane,

And even though I often complain,

Grateful is insufficient to describe,

How I feel as your wife,

Watching our boys look up to a man,

Who abandons every selfish plan,

Because he puts the kids’ needs first,

Sufficient to make any heart burst.

The boys call you for every fix,

Dead batteries and broken sticks,

Because you make everything right again,

I’m honored that you’re my best friend.