by Alison

red headed monsters

with sharp teeth hide in her room -

we stay up past 12

by Alison

he’s Jewish I’m not

and neither is our daughter -

it’s complicated

by Alison

kiddo sick all week

I’m exhausted from childcare -

I need a grandma

by Alison

.

.

.

.

On the way…

Sunday morning drive

wispy leafless trees pass us -

we watch quietly

.

We get there…

my child covered in

chocolate - a grandmother

scowls hard at us both

.

Our way home…

“She must be from Mass.”

I complain as we walk past

hardy Marigolds

by Alison

1 cat + 1 dog

1 daughter + 1 husband

= 3 children

by Alison

“Look at the fairy!”

she whispers, her hands cupped out -

autumn is magic

by Alison

.

.

.

The Incident:

While I spread jelly

she choo-choos her chair

onto my sockless big toe!

.

Denial:

I howl she giggles

I cry harder she laughs more - 

my big toe turns blue

.

Awareness:

when she realizes

she hurt me she cries, “I want

to hurt my toe too!”

.

Forgiveness:

Instead we share hugs -

“It was just an acc - i -lent”

she tells me head down.

.

by Alison

.

.

.

nursery school drop-off -

she begins to see the world

beyond her mother

.

a brown cardinal

hops along the playground fence -

I drive myself home

by Alison

dreaming in the car

her eyes follow the moon and

the moon follows her

by Alison

mom at the playground:

“How wonderful you let your

daughter dress like that!”