Cutting Apron Strings

by Cheryl Merrick

Oh! The pain!
Doesn't she love me anymore?
How can he just ignore me?
Why doesn't she even call?

We were so close.
Have I done something wrong?
He passes by me as if I wasn't even there,
and spends his time with others.

Suppressed Feelings

by Cheryl Merrick

I’m tired of stressful relationships
I’m tired of trying to please unpleaseable people
I’m tired of our talents and resources being used
 to achieve other people’s goals
I’m tired of seeing our retirement money being consumed by a business
which has never given us any return
I’m tired of my husband working to support other’s comfortable lifestyle
I’m tired of living frugally so others can enjoy luxuries we can’t
I’m tired of giving all our extra time, energies, and resources to people who just use us
I’m tired of exhausting myself to provide unappreciated
and unneeded help to others
I’m tired of supporting people who need to stand on their own feet
I want to step back and allow our grown children
to solve their own problems
I’m tired of waiting for a turn which never comes.

Two Voices

by Cheryl Merrick

I am in my teens, I am - well much older
and a daughter. and her mother.
Sometimes I miss being a Sometimes I miss my little girl
child and being taken care of, And taking care of her,
But mainly I want to grow up. But most of the time I wish she’d act more grown up.
I wonder when she will ever     I wonder when she will accept
allow me more freedom? more responsibility?

 What does she expect of me?

She is so frustrating!

Turning Over

by Cheryl Merrick

They’re grown,
but when I hear of their struggles
with supporting themselves,
building strong marriages,
developing faith in themselves,
their partner, and
their Father in Heaven,
learning how to be parents,
and nurturing their children,
caring for their health,
and managing their finances,
I want to rush in and
solve their problems
and save them from suffering and struggle.

Longing

by Cheryl Merrick

When I had babies,
though I longed for sleep,
I found joy in gooey hugs.

When I had toddlers,
I longed for rest,
but rejoiced in first steps.

When I had school age children,
though I longed for more time,
their excitement became mine.

It Was You

by Cheryl Merrick

Thank you for all the hours you spent
making him pick up his things
for teaching him to brush his teeth and share his toys.

Thank you for caring for him when he was ill
and counseling him when he when he needed help.

Thank you for teaching him to live by correct principles
and how to serve others.

Thank you for helping him development his talents
and for encouraging his boundless enthusiasm for life.

Thank you for all the suffering, worry and time
you put into preparing your son
to be the husband of my daughter.

And thank you most of all for
giving me another son,
“the easy way”.

Fledgling

by Cheryl Merrick

Tromping upon the fallen cherries,
the young robin begs, with open mouth,
for its parent to feed him.

Ignoring the persistent cries,
the adult calmly continues to show the way,
Til eventually,
the frustrated fledgling
bends down and begins to feast.

Expecting

by Cheryl Merrick   

    We are counting the weeks -
    There are four.
Each week seems to lengthen
    As our anticipation increases.
As I sit in the sun
    resting,
    It is hard to imagine the day arriving.
We have waited so long.
I strive to imagine how our lives
     Will shortly change.
Our home will be so different.
It will be a new experience for us.
How can we prepare?
With prayers we await the moment,
     hoping this child will find joy
     as he enters the world
       as an Adult.

May 2002

Control

by Cheryl Merrick

“You must do this!”
the mother declares,
her face white with fear,
as she desperately attempts
to steer her daughter’s unruly ship
through the treacherous
waters of teenage hood.

Near exhaustion,
she cries out for strength
and is answered by the
Master of the Seas.
“Let Go!
 You are not meant to steer,
but to light her way.
Only your daughter can
manage her own ship.”

Wedding Day

by Cheryl Merrick

On a spring day
bright with new beginnings,
a mother and daughter stand
in the soft light of stained glass windows,
and speak of faith.
As buttons on the wedding gown are fastened,
an era is closed.
A woman emerges
radiant in her love
to kneel at the altar of the Lord.
In a mirrored room,
Fathers witness
words of commitment spoken,
while mothers watch through misty eyes,
as a new family is formed,
created by love,
and forged by
Priesthood power.

New Gardeners

by Cheryl Merrick

I long for them to always nurture their love,
so that they might avoid years of neglect,
and drought of faith & affection,
May they never allow cares and concerns,
like flourishing weeds
to crowd out their relationship.
And may they always find joy in their garden.

Lighthouse

by Cheryl Merrick

Once I thought my happiness
depended upon the happiness of others.
Now, accepting their need
to learn from their own mistakes, 
I accept my mission 
to set a righteous example.