I resort to my old glory days

where Television provides

my parenting skills.

As the wise mothers of fiction

rest their arms around the upset

children of the screen,

I feel the tension in my chest

ease a little.

I search inside for the little ones

who are overwhelmed by the dresses

and the desire to rage and wrestle.

I search inside for the older teens

who learn

the deep ache of lonely.

I search inside for the twenty year olds

lost in the industry of men

and trying to financially survive.

I rest an arm around them all,

and I say, "Yes, it is hard,

and I am here."