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A Let Grow Poem (for grown ups)
By Stephanie Kemp + Friends







This is a story about all I can do.
But it isn’t just me,
It’s:

her,
him,
them…
YOU.

Parents always love it when we: “Go outside and play!”
But parents also worry…..(almost)…..every. single. day.

It’s not that I don’t love my room, our house, the yard…
But I want to go outside of them, even if it’s hard.

I see things on the other side of:
…our fence.
…our street.
…our town.

I want to know what happens there,
I want to look around.

I want to walk to school alone.
I want to take the bus.
I want to stay out after dark,
(But would negotiate to dusk.)

I want to take my bike and ride away to meet my friends…
Or hide out in our cul de sac, and make a tree fort where it ends.

I want to sell some lemonade, but make it by myself.
I want to know I won that massive trophy on my shelf.

I want to earn allowance, not just collect it every week.
(But if I forget to do my chores, maybe you can sometimes treat?)

Independence can be tricky, in lots of different ways.
And I’m sure I’ll make mistakes sometimes……it’s sort of like a maze.

But I want to learn and see and try….(I know I”ll sometimes fail.)
I want to get up by myself, not always hold the rail.*

I know how much you love me,
You give me everything I need.
But I don’t just want to follow you,
I also want to lead.

I know if I can do this, I’ll feel strong and brave and smart.
I know this world is scary, but I can’t wait for mine to start.

*But I will still hold your hand………………sometimes.


(A NELA Films Docu-Poem workshopped for Letgrow.org and filmed with some excellent kids and grown ups at Ortwein Elementary School in the Fall/Winter of 2023/24.)