A few weeks ago, my oldest came home excited about a poem he was writing in class, “and there’s a contest, and I can submit my poem, and I might even win a gift certificate to buy books!” Caden is 10 years old and never before have I seem him so excited to be writing. As a mom, teacher, and blogger, I could hardly contain my pride and joy… be still, my heart.

We talked about his process over the next weeks, and although he’s now already submitted his poem, he still wouldn’t tell us what he had written about. On Sunday night over dinner, I was teasing him and telling him he must’ve written about how he has the world’s best mom. My mom is so cool because she… “Stop mom, that’s not it” he said while blushing and looking slightly annoyed that I’d assumed that this was all he could come up with.

He was right. He didn’t write about his not-so-cool mom. He wrote about something much more powerful, much more meaningful.

Last night when I got home from school, Caden’s finished poem was sitting on the counter, along with two previous draft versions. As I began to read, everything became still. I immediately got pulled into his incredibly wise words. Did my 10-year-old really write this? I could hardly believe it.

This morning while bringing my boys to school, I asked Caden if it would be okay with him if I shared his poem on my blog. I really didn’t know what to expect because he’s at the age where he’s too cool for me most days. Without hesitation though, and with pride exuding from his every word, he said, “Okay, but my first draft is hand written and it’s still at school, so I’ll bring it home for you today.”

I know what you’re probably thinking… every mom is proud of her kid’s work, and thinks it’s amazing, but this, this is different (says maybe every single mom, but hang with me). Mature beyond his years, Caden wrote about our best being enough. He wrote about how we should strive to empower and inspire. He wrote about how our imperfections actually make us perfect. He wrote how that is truly the ultimate prize which is a message that many of us need to hear, now, tomorrow, and always. I hope you enjoy his poem as much as I did.

My Perfect Poem

It’s amazing how the smallest poems can win first prize.

Strong verbs

Show not tell

Thoughts and feelings

How do they fit it all in?

They just write until it’s perfect

Because their poems Are perfect

I try to create images

But as my fingers hit the keyboard

They freeze

I get caught up in the thought of writing the perfect poem

Future students reading it like I’m

Shakespeare

That’s all I’ve ever wanted

Is to be a role model

Is to be an inspiration

And to feel like a professional poet

But still I think I have one small chance

To write

My Perfect Poem

-Caden Rauch