‘Aladdin’ and ‘The Little Mermaid’ no longer hold a charm
‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ have lost their sway
The sound of glass breaking, holds not the same alarm
When I could conceive a multitude of frights just yesterday
Macaroni and glitter artwork, stuff that used to be bane
Along with a medal made of paper, in the scrapbook
A box with a bundle of model trains and cars and planes
Memories past, that bellow for a just another look
Emphasizing the second syllable of the word every
The volcano project that was quite a bit unstable
The melted chocolate cookie smile used to distract me
From the crumbly mess left on the kitchen table
The children who couldn’t fib, looking me in my eyes
The kids I couldn’t trust not to burn the toast
The brats who threw a party and told straight-faced lies
When confronted with evidence of their being such gallant hosts
The con-men who know ‘Please mother?’ from ‘Mommy PUH-LEEZE??’
The house slaves with laundry finished and dinner cooked, ready to serve
The hooligans who greet me at the door when I take too long fumbling with my keys
The young men who offer the aspirin, sensing I’ve had a day that tested my nerves
These days I find myself staring a little longer at their faces
And the tones of their voices, to my memory, I try hard to adhere
Some mother’s instinct I suppose, preparing for empty spaces
That once remote chance of their leaving, now drawing near
====================
Raivenne-lations 
Awesome write, Raivenne! The rhyming is beautiful and the story is precious.
Thank you Charles. A friend was going through this recently. It reminded me of my sons and the day it fully hit me that they would be gone sooner than later.
awww….my son turned 10 this year…i have a doubel digit son…he told me the other day he has 6 years til he drives….and i cant believe it…all the things left behind i am not looking forward to that part…smiles. nice write…
Oh man, I remember when my youngest reached double digits. Cars are the easy part, wait until he gets to the part where he stops thinking girls are yucky… grinning.
Thanks Brian.
I have no son, but I feel this with my nephew. Having him leave home for college in August was a proud and sad moment for me. I’m loving seeing all the things he’s becoming, but I miss the 5-year-old he still is in my heart.
I saw my oldest not too long after he turned 30 this year. In my mind’s eye I could still see him as the little monkey trying to Spiderman his way up the walls in the hall of my mother’s apartment. I suspect when your nephew reaches thirty you’ll have a similar experience.