Room
“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.
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.
