Friday, September 12, 2014

Things I Should Know By Now



Expect
rain.

Expect
something spilled
precisely
after mopping.

Expect
seven-year-old
to not have
brushed teeth,
even with several reminders.

Expect
twelve-year-old
to throw garbage bags
“at” outdoor garbage bin
instead of “in” it.

Expect
fourteen-year-old
to fret about being late
worse than
the White Rabbit.

Expect
dirty plates,
empty pizza box
where nineteen-year-old
“chillaxes.”

Expect
rain
again.

Expect
to be loved
despite words
I should not have said
regarding the above.

Expect
all
to repeat.



© 2014 Jennifer Wagner

14 comments:

Janet Martin said...

hear! Hear! love it. ah, sweet, sweet motherhood(())

Audrey Howitt aka Divalounger said...

Yup! And repeat and repeat! Loved this Jennifer!

Fireblossom said...

I'm not big on expectations, but I like this list of them!

Grace said...

This reminds me of household chores, its never ending, smiles ~

janetld said...

An entertaining write about an ordinary reminder-packed day in a happy household of kids/teens!

RMP said...

this made me smile...even brighter with the second to last stanza.

Justin Lamb said...

Good job capturing the way that kids and family life are messy, imperfect, and wonderful all at once.

Magyar said...

... and yet, when they become parents, "Expect all to repeat," and they will know! Smiles! _m

Margaret said...

…It appears you and I live the same "poem"! :)

Tank said...

Expect - to live, laugh and love with the most incredible wife and mother. Ever. Thanks for all you do!

Optimistic Existentialist said...

Ah yes, all these are to be expected, but something tells me it's more than worth it :)

Wendy Bourke said...

Ha Ha! - Expect the expected - and the unexpected. Sounds like a good plan!

Claudia said...

smiles... i love how it closes with the expect to be loved... oy.. i could write a book about teenagers... and they too need love and guidance...smiles

Anonymous said...

yep. 13 and 15 in my world. ~