Mommy Squeeze Poem by Melanie Emikohe

It's another catastrophe of a four year old
screaming! Frustrated, embarrassed
that he got so involved

Building imaginary rivers on a sand,
held his wee wee until it exploded
before a circle of strangers

I could make him sit and listen
to my Parenting 101, been briefed
yet keeps forgetting

Or I could give a mommy squeeze
because that's what I want to do
let him know that accidents happen to kids
and it's okay

For he will soon find which door to a man's toilet
without having to buy a textbook
on how to hold his wee wee

But empathy, he cannot learn it
without treading a path of empathy
a small act of tolerance gifted to a child
is a tolerance he will gift to the world