Mommy Just Breathe

By Ronda Spataro

For Cameron

Hurry son, you’ll be late for school,

I hear myself say again,

as he reaches his fingers to touch the rose petals

still covered from morning rain.

He runs his fingers along the bricks

as I bustle him along.

He stops and listens as birds fly above,

singing their good morning song.

I’m rushing to bribe him into the car

so that we can be on time.

He stops to watch a tiny spider

and hums the appropriate rhyme.

The “Itsy Bitsy Spider” can wait.

We’re in a hurry again.

He stops and gives me “Butterfly Kisses”.

Rushing is not in his plan.

He bends his knees and reaches down

to touch the blades of grass.

I slow my morning hastiness

and realize I’m moving too fast.

He looks at me with big hazel eyes

and smiles an innocent smile.

As I reach down and touch the grass,

time stands still for a while.

I truly stop and take a deep breath

and smell the morning air.

I watch him absorb the whole world

as I stroke his soft brown hair.

He is here on this earth

for special reasons indeed.

For this very morning, he spoke not a word,

but his actions said “Mommy, just breathe”.