Charades of Perfection

"Yeah, I'm fine"
She always says
But no one knows
What goes on in her head.

There isn't anyone that understands
How very hard it is
To try and live a life
That's impossible to live.

Her mom and dad always say
That she's their pride and joy
And that they know she's different than her brothers,
Well of course; she's not a boy.

She can't complain or make one little mistake,
She has to be just right.
Her life has been based on perfection,
But trying to fit a square into a circle is no life.

She has to be a good little girl
And do everything that mommy and daddy say.
But get a clue, she's a teenager now.
You knew it had to happen someday.

She's going to complain a lot
And want to do her own thing.
She's going to have an attitude
For it's time for her rebellious fling.

Do you know how sick she is
Of doing everything to please you?
She carries so much pressure on her shoulders
But she still keeps pushing through.

She can't stand up for herself
Or else mommy gets upset.
Her mom does pull a nasty guilt trip
With no feelings of regret.

She understands the stage of life
Her mother's going through
But it's also so unfair for her;
She's going through changes too.

So hear me out,
Let me complain,
It's what I need to do.
I need to pout and whine and scream.
Have you forgotten you went through it too?

I'm sorry mom and dad,
That I cannot perfect.
I'm sorry I'm not that different
From what my brothers once were.

Please just understand
That I am only human.
I love you both so very much
But perfect just is not who I am.

You say you don't expect that,
But everybody knows you do.
You're making me live a life
Trying to do something no one can do.

I'm done with the fake smiles
And pretend happiness -
Okay that part's not true,
But I needed to vent like this.

But I really am done
With listening to you complain
About the little things that I do wrong;
Please just refrain
And know that I'm just letting
All my feelings show.

"Yeah, I'm fine"
She always says,
But know that she is not.
Just sit and say
"I'm listening,
I know you need to talk."