Don't Give In

Don’t give in.

You’re tired. You have lost patience.

You want to snap for them dumping the markers on the floor, 

for biting each grape once and spitting it out and stepping on it. 

For touching you and touching you and touching you. 

Don’t give in. 

Breathe. 

Be calm, or even funny. 

Don’t give in. 

Unless you just have to.

Then do it, but go all the way.

Give all the way in, 

in under the exhaustion, the anger, the overwhelm,

give in down to the sadness, 

and cry.

And let them see.

Let them see it’s hard sometimes. 

It’s too much for any of us,

and it’s ok.

Give in, give up, 

give them the real,

give them the all.