Childhood doesn't wait

[mollipops]

I was sitting on a bench
while in a nearby mall,
When I noticed a young mother
with two children who were small.

The youngest one was whining,
"Pick me up," I heard him beg
but the mother's face grew angry
as the child clung to her leg.

"Don't hang on to me," she shouted
as she pushed his hands away,
I wish I'd had the courage
to go up to her and say...

"The time will come too quickly
when those little arms that tug,
Won't ask for you to hold them
or won't freely give a hug.

"The day will sneak up subtly
just as it did with me,
When you can't recall the last time
that your child sat on your knee.

"Like those sacred, pre-dawn feedings
when we cherished time alone
Our babies grow and leave behind
those special times we've know.

"So when your child comes to you
with a book that you can share,
Or asks that you would tuck him in
and help him say his prayer...

"When he comes to sit and chat
or would like to take a walk,
Before you answer that you can't
'cause there's no time to talk

"Remember what all parents learn
so many times too late,
That years go by too quickly
and that childhood doesn't wait.

"Take every opportunity,
if one should slip away
Reach hard to get it back again,
don't wait another day."

I watched that mother walk away
her children followed near,
I hope she'll pick them up
before her chances disappear.



Give your children a big hug from me

[mollipops]

Sorry

[mollipops]

Not the meassage I intended at all (I am a working mum too). I will just shut up now.

[sister]

StayingIn, you are human which means that you have your own needs to fulfill yourself and at the end of the day make you a happier, contented, better mum. No one should have to completely give up having some grown up fun from time to time -

[sis]

mollipops, don't shut up, the poem was lovely and as Stayingin said, it just caught her at a bad time.

[janh]

Anyway, mollipops, the one in the poem sounds more like a SAHM up to her eyebrows in childish attention to me! I have been there...

(NB No offence intended to SAHMs either! )

(God, what a minefield all this is!)

And Stayingin, I can't believe how cruel and thoughtless that person was to ruin your night out like that.

[grommit]

just read poem and felt so emotional and guilty arranged to collect dd from childminder early...She was 3 yesterday and growing too fast, feel like I am missing out by working ft...;(

[grommit]

Thought I'd post this one as it is all about getting things into perspective (sorry it's a bit long):

A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, rocks about 2" in diameter. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous - yes. The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and proceeded to pour their entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed. "Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The rocks are the important things: your family, your partner, your health, and your children-things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else, "The small stuff." "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued "there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal. Take care of the rocks first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand." One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of beers."

[CookieMonster]

Grommit .... excellent stuff (and oh so true!)

[Rosy]

I went to a trade fair (away for one night) when dd was about 15 months, and I lost count of the number of customers who asked me who was looking after my daughter. "Her father of course!" (The ironic thing was that he was out that evening, so someone from nursery brought her home & put her to bed. So he did less looking after her than he would on most evenings.) Stayingin - if it's of any comfort, that guy sounds like an idiot.

[Clarinet60]

Hear hear. Staying in, you're a saint to stay in for 16 months! I couldn't have done it and stayed sane. It does them good to experience other people (children, that is.)

SofiaAmes, I'm glad I'm not the only one with a DH who spreads poo everywhere when he changes a nappy. It's just not worth all the cleaning up you have to do after them is it? Unless I'm not there I change all nappies myself now. Perhaps that's why he does it

[thumper]

StayingIn, you should not feel or be made to feel guilty about going out,ESPECIALLY after sixteen months! I think you should see this as the start of YOUR life again and make plans to have more you time. And it could be worse, you could be married to that man!!