Blessings on the Boring Parent

A little poem for you today…

Blessings on the boring parent

Blessings on you, the boring parent.

The one who serves the boring food,

who makes them do the boring chores,

who requires them to do their boring homework before screentime,

who gets them to bed at a boring time.

The one who listens to the fun stuff they do at their other house,

Who listens as they talk about the things their lucky friends get to do.

The one who gets the worst of their worst,

who is there for them when they’ve used their all to hold it together at school,

who is there for them when they’ve slept bad or been disappointed by their other parent,

who is there when they need, as all children do, to test the boundaries of what’s acceptable,

who gets all their big emotions and blame.

Blessings on you, the boring, steady, soft landing parent.

For you do the most essential, most invisible work.

You validate their feelings, their dreams, their worries.

You teach them to name emotions and thoughts.

You challenge them and help them see their courage.

You see and hear them and ask curious questions.

You own your mistakes and model how to mend relationships.

You are their safe place, their safe person.

You are their foundation.

You will get no award.

You will get no recognition, no credit, no thanks.

You get no guarantee they will love you forever or want a lifelong relationship with you.

Only your heart will truly know the importance of what you’ve done.

Blessings on you for doing this hard work.

This magical, spiritual work that will give them the best possible start,

the solid foundation from which to grow into healthy, whole adults.

Blessings on you, the boring parent.

Your child and we, the world, are so lucky you are here.

💛 Meg