how far does the apple
really fall from the tree
and how much of a child
is a reflection of parenting

I mean
there are those kids
who shoot up classrooms
who look at porn
who run away

are their actions
from parenting
or from choice

there are times when my kids
make good choices
and I feel I’ve done well
but when they make bad choices
I feel the one to blame

but that’s the world
conditioning blame
to be shifted
conditioning minds
to be on self

what I’ve learned is
an apple has nothing to do
with a child
and a child grows into
their own

with their own mind
with their own heart
with their own choices

my job is to be love for them
and love them well
and watch them grow
into trees