New Years Resolution Pledge To New Baby

by Tamara Wilhite
(Bedford, TX)

When I was 8 months along with our first child, I made a New Years resolution pledge to my new baby. He was joyously awaited by our family, as he had been long planned and painstakingly conceived via fertility treatments.

 

This was the end of our last year as a couple, just before the little one's arrival.

I wrote and shared this poem with everyone at our family gathering.

Compared to common New Years resolutions like “lose weight,” “get out of debt,” and “get a better” job, my pledge had much more heartfelt meaning.

Ode to an unborn child



There is not yet

one thing, one regret

that you have had

in your life that's sad


Not one thing you've done

To wish undone

Not one thing you did

Wished to be hid


Not one dream lost

Or paid a cost

No one has gone away

What is now, will stay


No knowing of death

Or being bereft

No such thing as sorrow

As none of tomorrow

Exists yet for you.


What can I do?

I can give it all

No more, to the wall

Cannot make the world all safe

Get rid of bad people or hate

Saying they do

all this for you

In your name

Is this game

Played

Weighed

While it cannot be lost

For it's cost

Would be your children.


I cannot make the world

All it should be for you

But I promise to do

The best I am able to


This is my promise for the New Year

You will never have to fear

For Mommy will always be near

For my baby so dear