I’ve just been reading this mother’s blog that my friend blogged about, and it broke my heart– and made me bawl. It is stories like hers that make me want to hold onto our dear children and cherish every minute with have with them.
I’ve heard the last part of this poem before. But never the whole thing. It’s written by Ruth Hulbert Hamilton, in Lady’s Home Journal 1958. I’m sure you’ll agree that it applies to even the FIRST child! The bolded part is now on my fridge. It’s a good reminder to me of why I am a stay-at-home mom. It’s to be a mom!
Dillon holding Carson’s hand. 9/15/03
“Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking!
Oh, I’ve grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
And out in the yard there’s hullabaloo
But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren’t her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
But children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep…”
I have always loved that last paragraph to this poem…it is hanging up in our doctor’s office. It reminds me how important it is to spend time with our kids. In fact, I’m going to get off the computer right now and go play with them. :)
What a sweet poem! And I love that picture too.