Dad, Mum, please listen to me!

(A Poem from me to you. A message from your child’s world).

Listen to me, Mum; listen to me, Dad.
I know you are older and wiser, but you do not feel my pain.
You may have walked the path I am discovering, but time has changed
Please lend me your ears to gain a better understanding of my world.

Please just listen to what I say so that you can understand what I cannot say.
I know you yearn to ask me all the questions your heart desires.
But I may not have all the answers to meet your heart’s desires.
But if you listen to me with all your being,
You may find all your answers in the silence between my words.

Listen to what I try to say. Listen to discover what I cannot say
Do not only listen to ask all those questions.

But listen to understand me first before you attempt to help me with my pain.

Because if you don’t know how to help me, your solution may cause me more pain.

Mind you, I may not need you to fix my pain. All that matters are your listening ears.

I may be saying a lot by saying very little.

Only if you listen wholeheartedly will you hear all of me.

So, listen closely, with gentle patience, listen in silence with your inner ears.

Not just to what I say aloud, but to the quiet whispers of words I cannot express.

To all parents, take a moment to listen today to what your children are trying to say.

Listen to me today, whatever you do, as tomorrow may be too late for me to listen to you.

Listen to my problems, listen to my needs.
Listen to understand me, not only to query my doing.

My doing may be a call to listen, and my ‘not doing’ may be a shout for help.
But how would you know if you are forever frustrated with my actions?
My actions that you see are the only way I know how to communicate with you.
But if you truly listen with all your heart, you will see me as well as hear me with all your being.

Praise my smallest triumphs; praise my smallest deeds.

Tolerate my chatter, amplify my laughter.

Find out what is the matter. Find out what I am after.

But be gentle and understanding, as I may not have the right words to meet your desire.

Tell me that you love me every single night.
This message keeps me safe, and your words erase my fear.
Your voice rings in my head all night long, a deterrent to those grim monsters.

Although you scold me by day, be sure to hold me tight by night and tell me everything is all right.
Reassure me that tomorrow is going to be a better day, and I will believe you,
Because, as your soothing voice is ringing in my head, tomorrow is already looking bright.
I will go to bed and sleep tight tonight, knowing fully well that I am loved.

United-In-Separation®