After read time,
before dream time,
I curl beside my son,
fasten my arm around his chest,
safety for his nightly glide.

My son will say,
“Don’t let go,”
as if to fall asleep
is to fly,
and I’m his tandem partner,
the one in charge
of deploying his parachute.

“Stay with me
this many times.”
He holds up fingers
that can’t fully flex,
and even after hauling
the backpack of my day,
I am happiest to hug him
long past free fall.

His last request,
“Tuck me in, Mommy,”
and I frame him
in billowy, blue canopy.
Whisper, “I’m happy
to be your mommy,”
with back to the wind,
my smile bridling him
into the unscathed sky.
Before pulling the pilot chute
on our joyous flight.


It’s NaPoWriMo Day 8. Today is my son’s 5th birthday. Oh, the joy of being his mother! I hope this poem captures at least a fraction of my happiness. I’m glad to be dedicating my days to this little guy and his big sister.

16 responses to “My Tandem Partner”

  1. 😍 he looks about the same age as my little one!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh, it’s a fun time, isn’t it? I know I will miss moments like the one in the poem when he gets older.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Yes, me too. We must treasure them! You described it beautifully.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Thank you. 😀

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Oh I miss those days, they move so much quicker than one images. As they age they have their own parachute, however we will always be that smaller one in case they need it. A heartfelt poem 💙. Happy birthday to your little one.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you very much. He is growing at a rapid rate, What a lovely image to imagine him with his own parachute. Appreciate it.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You’re welcome, my pleasure. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  3. lovely. Oozes motherly love.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, I had a great writing partner help me with some word choices to elevate this piece.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. What a beautiful, loving, warm, nurturing poem. It made me tingle. And your son sounds gorgeous.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you very much, Bedtime is one of my favorite times; it’s great to be able to help him fall asleep and to express my joy at being with him and being his mother.

      Liked by 1 person

  5. just discovered this: a delightful poem, warm and breezy: love the metaphor of flight; and o a happy birthday to your son ! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you very much, John. It was a big , busy day; he’s a whole hand now, you know, and ‘times they are a changing.’

      Liked by 2 people

      1. indeed they are 🙂

        Liked by 2 people

  6. What a lovely poem, and a super pic. too

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Hobbo. Great memories, both.

      Liked by 1 person

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