What Do I Give You My Child?
by Deborah Lorraine

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What do we give our children? Advice? Encouragement? A steady hand? Freedom to wobble? A soft place to land? A giant hug? What Do I Give You My Child? is a lyrical journey through the stages of childhood to adulthood, reminding us that every stumble and fumble can become a stepping stone—and that even the messiest moments can be magical. Inspired by Deborah’s three sons, each poem captures a snapshot in time. The collection offers the kind of wisdom that might come from stepping on LEGO block in the dark. It celebrates the imperfections, the hilarious happenings, and the miracles that help shape a grown-up. As a tribute to her children—wrapped in sticky fingers, sprinkled with questionable decisions, and infused with parental improv (but baked with best efforts!)—this book blends their stories into one symbolic journey. It represents not only their shared path but also simmers into the mix, their chosen life partners. And the crown of the cupcake—the final swirl of a life lovingly stirred, are the grandchildren, those who are already baked to perfection, and those whose dough is yet to be mixed.

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Of all her life’s learning and adventures, Deborah’s most meaningful experience has been raising three energetic boys into functioning adults. With no degree in motherhood, Deborah, with help from family, friends, and a teetering library of parenting books (some actually read), navigated the chaos of constant worry, emergency room visits, and enough laundry to qualify as cardio. It wasn’t graceful. Instead, it was an unbalanced symphony of squabbles, spontaneous silliness, and a myriad of muddled misunderstandings—but there was love, laughter, and a parade of character-building pandemonium. Parenthood has no playbook. Childhood has no compass. We wing it. We make mistakes. We improvise. Yet still, we grow, we learn, and our children find their own way—in their own time. Deborah wrote this book as a gift to her family. It was meant to answer the question, What Do I Give You, My Child? It did not. She still doesn’t have the answer—but she’s deeply grateful for the journey. If parenting has taught her anything, it’s that perfection is overrated. Love is what gets us through.

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Contributors

Author

Deborah Lorraine

Illustrator

Domingo E. de los Reyes