Much Assembly Required

The following is one of many free verse poems I've written about my experience raising kids.

Dave

Much Assembly Required

It's Christmas Eve
Half past midnight
The stockings are hung by the chimney with care
Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah

The wife's asleep and I'm playing Santa
Or maybe an elf
Crouched in the middle of the living room floor
With a bazillion nuts, bolts, washers and parts
That the instructions assure me will make a tricycle

"Some assembly required," the box says
Yeah, right
More like "Much assembly required"

I must have been crazy
Or blinded by love
Or both
To get myself into this

I'm way past tired, but a voice inside reminds me,
"Be patient. In the morning, it will be worth it.
Just wait and see."
I don't know exactly when I finished
But the little hand was on the three

Morning comes
And I see the smile on his face
And hear him ring the bell
And watch him pedal and become
Just a little bit older with each push

Thanks, God, for seeing me through
The fatigue and frustration
To the joy of this Christmas morning

Little boys and tricycles:
"Much assembly required"

When the going gets tough
And tempers run high
I sometimes think
I must have been crazy
Or blinded by love
Or both
To get myself into this

But God can see me through
The fatigue and frustration
To the joy that waits in the morning