If only there was armour
For all the advice arrowed our way
A secret shield against
All the catapulted tips
From all those who say they love us
But only really love the idea of telling us what to do
Like a dog likes bone
Only for him only for now
No we haven’t read all the books
No we haven’t baby-proofed every corner
No we haven’t enrolled you in preschool
Your mother and I are just
Wasting valuable weeks
Eating and sleeping
Being and dreaming
& if one day you find
Your life was ruined for attending the wrong preschool
Or your self-esteem shot because the other parents
Knew more about the Brazelton technique
Then it’s on us
But if you end up happy and whole because
You were raised by a man and a woman who loved you the way
They love each other
Who listened to you as much as they hear one another
Then please write to
All those who reveled in our incompetence
Tell them you forgive them
Because love has taught you that too