Cleaning and scrubbing can wait for tomorrow,
For babies grow up, we've learned to our sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs, dust - go to sleep,
I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep.
I chose this poem as a compliment to my mom; I felt it epitomized her approach to motherhood. Certainly our home wasn't spotless, perhaps it could even be considered messy, but even as a teenager I knew, without a doubt, that we children were top priority.
Lately I've had that short verse run through my mind rather frequently. Instead of being a compliment though, it rings as a rebuke. I often find myself lamenting that I can't get anything done these days. Sometimes, for example, I'll be nursing Bryce and will look around and see so many things that need to be done and I find myself getting antsy and frustrated. Or, Aubree will ask me to play a game with her and I catch myself responding, "maybe after I do the dishes." Then I hear the words of the poem echo in my mind cautioning that those are just things and they're not nearly as important as my children. I try to take a deep breath and remind myself that if my kitchen floor hasn't been mopped in two weeks, so be it. This time in my life is so fleeting and I don't want to look back with regret and know that I focused my energy on things of naught. I'll admit that it still drives me slightly batty to not have my home as orderly and clean as I'd like, and to have projects piling up and errands left undone, but I'm trying to get over it!
I can't begin to express how much it meant to me to grow up knowing that I was a top priority for my mom. I think that knowledge filled me with tremendous confidence and motivation. I owe much of who I am now and the successes I've had thus far in my life to the love and attention of my wonderful mother. Likewise, I want my kids to know innately that they are one of my very top priorities - more important than a spotless house, or an exciting career, or expensive clothes, or any thing. For them to know that, I must act accordingly. I'm grateful for the poetic reminder from my youth to use my time and energies primarily on those things that matter most.
P.S. Happy Birthday Mom!!!
"Here's lookin' at you!"
For babies grow up, we've learned to our sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs, dust - go to sleep,
I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep.
I chose this poem as a compliment to my mom; I felt it epitomized her approach to motherhood. Certainly our home wasn't spotless, perhaps it could even be considered messy, but even as a teenager I knew, without a doubt, that we children were top priority.
Lately I've had that short verse run through my mind rather frequently. Instead of being a compliment though, it rings as a rebuke. I often find myself lamenting that I can't get anything done these days. Sometimes, for example, I'll be nursing Bryce and will look around and see so many things that need to be done and I find myself getting antsy and frustrated. Or, Aubree will ask me to play a game with her and I catch myself responding, "maybe after I do the dishes." Then I hear the words of the poem echo in my mind cautioning that those are just things and they're not nearly as important as my children. I try to take a deep breath and remind myself that if my kitchen floor hasn't been mopped in two weeks, so be it. This time in my life is so fleeting and I don't want to look back with regret and know that I focused my energy on things of naught. I'll admit that it still drives me slightly batty to not have my home as orderly and clean as I'd like, and to have projects piling up and errands left undone, but I'm trying to get over it!
I can't begin to express how much it meant to me to grow up knowing that I was a top priority for my mom. I think that knowledge filled me with tremendous confidence and motivation. I owe much of who I am now and the successes I've had thus far in my life to the love and attention of my wonderful mother. Likewise, I want my kids to know innately that they are one of my very top priorities - more important than a spotless house, or an exciting career, or expensive clothes, or any thing. For them to know that, I must act accordingly. I'm grateful for the poetic reminder from my youth to use my time and energies primarily on those things that matter most.
P.S. Happy Birthday Mom!!!
"Here's lookin' at you!"
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