Tooth

Joe cried because he had a loose tooth,
And refused to eat solid food.

I looked more carefully and saw
The adult tooth fully emerged behind the baby tooth.
Bleeding gum.
Baby tooth discolored already,
Yet still tenaciously holding on.

I suggested he wiggle it,
And made him smoothies for every meal.

He came in to talk to me all day.
To show me the tooth.
To talk about the change.

I grew a little annoyed.
And then I thought,
He is processing his life.
You do this with other people almost every day.
Why not listen to your son, too?

I wish I had no short-comings as a mother.