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# Room
- URL: https://dianaludwick.com/room/
- Published: 2026-02-12T21:15:09.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T20:11:49.000Z
- Description: “Room,” a poem on mutual understanding on the vagaries of parenting and boundaries. Written February 12, poem 043 in a series of 365 poems written by Diana Ludwick in 2026. Photo: "No Grone Ups All Oud!" by Diana Ludwick (c) 2026.
- Author: Diana Ludwick
- Tags: 2026 Poetry Challenge, Poems, Adulting, Boundaries, Community, Humor, Kids, parenting, Women, #Migrated-1792872215677, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-10-24 20:03

*Am I to clean this room today?*   
She asks, eyebrows arched,  
pointing to the closed door   
of my child's usually open room.  
  
I struggle to find  
the right words to explain.  
We've never had to  
hold a boundary like this before.  
  
*Well, soooo, she uh*— \[I bear my teeth\]  
*She didn't keep it clean so*— \[I wince\]  
*She is not to* — \[I shrug, hands fly up\]  
*We didn't want* — \[my brows knit\]  
  
The cleaning leader shakes her head  
then cuts in and exerts her sway:  
*No problem, Ms.* 
*Say no more; I got you.*  
  
With a knowing smile, she swivels  
on the heel of her   
immaculate Air Jordan 1s  
calling out: *Not today, ladies.*  
  
I can hear the   
kind-hearted smirk  
in her warm voice  
as she reunites with her team.  
  
I sense a familiar "Ahh!"   
A ripple of understanding as  
head nods flow like a current   
through the all-female crew.  
  
Parenting  
is Hard.  
Feeling Seen  
is a gift.