Thomas Michael

I wrote this when Thomas was five, when we were living in Hawaii. The air felt warm year-round, and the days moved a little slower.

But the truth is, this didn’t start when he was five.

It started in those early mornings when he was a baby. He would wake up content, playing quietly in his crib before ever calling for me. He slept through the night early, and when he was ready to start the day, he would pull himself up and call out, “Mama, mama, mama.”

All I had to say was “GEE GEE,” and he would laugh like it was the best thing he had ever heard.

That was Thomas.

Easy joy. Steady from the beginning.

I wrote the poem when he was five.
But it had been forming long before that.

Thomas Michael

From the time I learned new life was present,
it felt like heaven-sent —
a gift of lifelong love
from the beautiful clouds above.

You filled my life with a different kind of love,
hard to explain — but I’ll try thereof.
Holding you for the very first time,
my love for you began its climb.

From the moment you smiled back at me,
my life was filled with love — times three.
Our first moments alone
were like nothing I’d ever known.

From cooing, crawling, to walking,
our quiet time wasn’t meant for talking —
but to learn what true love was,
never to be alone, because
God knew what I needed.
My expectations? Exceeded.

You are a wonderful son,
in whom I am proud.
Keeping me on my toes, I vowed
to always have patience and understand
what you needed to become a man.

You have so many great qualities as a boy —
leadership, assertiveness, and being a go-getter.
It’s what you need in life
to be a goal-setter.

You have always amazed me
from the time you were born.
Always there for your mom
when life swarmed.

You were my protector
when you didn’t have to be —
but that’s what makes you, you…
a part of me.

Continue to play music
and sing from the heart.
I’ll always be there —
never apart.

Your talents you’ve slowly unearthed —
I can’t wait to see them first.
Just like your first steps,
your first words —
the most precious sounds I’ve ever heard.

So, continue to show me your best.
Don’t worry if you stumble.

Just know you are blessed.

Failure at times is part of the way,
but never a place you’re meant to stay.
It meets you briefly, then lets you see
the path that leads you to who you’ll be.

Be proud of who you are.
You’ve amazed me so far.

I miss you; I miss you —
I say to you this day.
And soon, “Welcome Home, T” —
where you will stay.

Your Biggest Fan,
Momma

I wrote this while you were at school, in the middle of an ordinary day.
Nothing big, nothing marked.
Just missing you in the way a mother does, even for a few hours.
Waiting for the time to come so I could go pick you up, Jake Jake riding along beside me.