This week, Mikaela Brewer reads a poem that explores parenthood, but in the voice of a toddler who has a new little sibling. Being a parent is a beautiful experience, but it is also exhausting (and equally so at different points while a child grows up). And, perhaps especially when children are very young, it may feel like your physical, mental, emotional, and spirtual work to care for them isn’t quite understood or noticed. This poem seeks to reimagine this, offering a way in which toddlers and infants may communicate how much they love those who care for them during the most vulnerable years of their lives.

Here's an excerpt of the poem (the full written & visually formatted versions can now be found & read at mikbrew.substack.com!):

What I mean is, sometimes no smile means you’ve caught humans loving the very very most that they can. And, I wish Mama & Dada knew that we knew. We see when they don’t smile— out of breath but not of love—trying to balance feeding us, changing us, watching us, holding up our heads, hearts, souls (and eating, maybe, sleeping, occasionally).

Listen to this week's episode to hear the full poem! If you’d like to share your moment or memory on the podcast, please head to tinyurl.com/bravingthewaves.

Disclaimer: This Podcast and all of our mental health learning and educational content is not therapy and is not a replacement for therapy. Noah and Simon do not take this therapist-client role in any way for Resolvve.

Please seek professional help if needed. Go to www.resolvve.ca to get the support you need.

Follow us on Instagram (@resolvvementalhealth), TikTok (@Resolvve), and Youtube (@resolvvementalhealth).