A poem for my kids

When you were new
I watched you sleep,
Touched your kewpie doll curls
And marvelled at your perfection.
You deserved the perfect mother
And I resolved to be perfect.

As you grew up
You were the centre of my existence
You were funny, sweet, grumpy and messy
I marvelled at your perfection.
You deserved the perfect mother
And I tried to be perfect.

As you got older
Things went awry
There was shouting, disappointment, frustration and anger
But I still marvelled at your perfection
You deserved the perfect mother
And she was nowhere to be seen.

When I look back
I try to find the moment when
My resolution unravelled
When real life took over my dreams
And made me realise
That nobody's perfect.

Despite everything,
I love you even more now
Than I did as that young naive new mother
A love that comes from watching
A child grow up
To be a beautiful person
Is as perfect a love that could ever exist
You deserve to be loved
And I love you.