Motherly Advice Poem by B. V. Dahlen

I try to put it from my mind.
The thought can scare me so.
In such a very little time
I'll have to face it though.

So soon you'll be a married man,
No longer just my son.
Change can sometimes be so hard.
It's really not much fun.

I'll have to find a new way now
Of thinking about you.
Relationships must often change.
I know that ours must too.

I've been on the other side of this.
I want to do this right.
You can not step aside and say
I will not join this fight.
You'll never be outside of this.
Don't think that you can skip.
You are the reason why we're here
In this relationship.

I hope that you'll avoid the trap
In choosing the right side,
When differences arise between
Your mother and your bride.

Your loyalties belong to her,
And though, at times, I know,
I'll try to coax you to my views.
That's not the way to go.

I'll watch you change as time
goes by.
Her influence I'll see.
She'll take a space there
in your life
that once belonged to me.

I know this won't be easy.
Sometimes I'll feel betrayed.
I don't know any way around.41.
I know I can't evade

These feelings that will be here.
In time I'll learn to deal
With all these new emotions
That moms-in-law must feel.

Take me aside from time to time
And in a gentle tone
Remind me of this poetry.
Remind me that you're grown.

I'll always be your Mother.
With your marriage that won't end,
But more than being Mom, I'd like
To take the roll of friend.

I want you both to come to me.
I'll try not to direct.
I want to learn to do this job
In a way you'll both respect.

Like any rank beginner
I'll be learning as I go.
Most probably I'll make mistakes,
But with your help I'll grow.

I'm asking for your patience,
And I, in turn, will try
To let you find your own way now
Though I'll do it with a sigh.

So long ago I had this dream
and in that dream foresaw
this challenge, this, my toughest job
The Job? 'Mother In Law'.