needs

mommy, help me wash my hands

so they may hold the weight of everything you need to put down

and don't forget to clean my ears

so your worries have somewhere to land

and when you braid my hair,

be sure to weave each secret

tightly inside

fill my belly

with the anxieties you can't

confide in anyone else

and most importantly

when you tuck me in to bed,

make sure your problems find a place in my covers

so you don't have to fall asleep with them yourself tonight