Reminiscing
By Ruth Rin

Another year for me has commenced
I reflect on decades long ago past
Only a fraction of my life
Did I experience as a wife.

With a marvelous daughter I was graced,
To love, to nourish, guide, embrace.
Witnessing her young life unfold
Brought me joys, profound, untold.

The marriage, it turned out, could not last. 
Solo I raised her; the years passed.

With nearby grandparents, weekend visits
buoyed us all, boosted our spirits.
With friends and family joyful times were spent,
At parks, at the zoo, on short trips we went.

When parents must attend to chores,
For kids it can be quite a bore.
Swapping childcare with another mom
Proved the perfect solution for everyone.
Kids of several families would gather to play,
A supportive community evolved in this way.
                             ****
How does a parent teach compassion?
In what way, and in what fashion?
Seize the moment, raise a question,
Not by preaching, but through action.

One day, my daughter and I walked past
A woman seated on the sidewalk, outcast.
Then we, at a restaurant, were served and dined,
But I couldn’t erase that poor soul from my mind.

I boxed a portion to take out the door,
Gave it to that woman we passed before.
My daughter saw, indeed, took note. 
Wordless, simple lesson -- taught.

Ah! Those days were one of a kind!
Work and motherhood intertwined.
With challenges we had to contend, 
But we overcame them in the end.
                       ****
Now she and husband raise a family,
Which they do with great vitality.
They too adeptly have to juggle
Career and home life, at times a struggle.

The wheels of life spin round each other
With so much joy there to discover.
Learning what not to overlook,
We write our own instruction book.
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By Ruth Rin, 2024