Today I’m sharing a hard poem I wrote, one that has been years in the making. It tells the story of the journey both myself and friends have experienced parenting children with mental health issues.
While the world and the church has become more open about discussing mental health, counseling, and medication for adults, the struggles of parenting children and teens with these challenges has not come to the forefront. The only time the topic is raised when a tragedy ensues. In that moment, the parents are usually the first ones blamed. What is never discussed is how hard it is to get quality mental health care in this country much less community support. Parents are often fighting 24/7 exhausting battles with few resources.
It’s not a feel good poem. It’s not meant to be. It only scratches the surface of the true daily lives of overwhelmed parents who are desperately trying to help their kids. It’s the story that doesn’t get told.
We ride the waves
Halt the spirals
Seek the diagnoses
Resist denial
The things we don’t say.
We set the boundaries
Limits define
Combat their rage
Hold the line
The things we don’t say.
We hide the pills
Stash the knives
Lock the doors
Fear for our lives
The things we don’t say.
We seek help
Strive to comprehend their pain
Hire the professionals
Fire them again
The things we don’t say.
We pursue the placements
Walk the halls
Deal with the discharges
Patch the walls
The things we don’t say.
We try “all-naturals”
Do the meds
Wean on—wean off
Side effects dread
The things we don’t say.
We react and argue in anger
Ache over our failures
Struggle with guilt
Pray for changes in behaviors
The things we don’t say.
We beg heaven for answers
Sob many a sleepless night
Cry out for mercy
Plead for strength to continue the fight
The things we don’t say.
We defend their privacy
Remain inarticulate
Hold ourselves together
Feel empty and desolate
The things we don’t say.
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